cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
URINARY INCONTINENCE DURING ORGASM

Urinary incontinence occurring during orgasm in women is an infrequently volunteered symptom. We studied 3 such patients to understand the mechanism behind such leakage. Urodynamic studies were performed prior to and during orgasm. It was found that during orgasm, there was involuntary bladder contraction with simultaneous urethral relaxation, resulting in leakage. Similar studies performed prior to orgasm did not reveal any involuntary bladder contraction. We believe that incontinence during orgasm is multifactorial: the most important causes are sphincter incompetence, neuropathic hyperreflexic bladder, and non-neuropathic idiopathic bladder instability.
A 5.9nV/√Hz chopper operational amplifier with 0.78μV maximum offset and 28.3nV/°C offset drift

Many auto-zero or chopper operational amplifiers have been reported with low offset and low-offset drift. The resulting baseband noise can also be a significant error source, and thus reducing the total error down to sub μV levels at DC and low frequencies has been targeted. Chopping is more suitable to lower the baseband noise PSD, as it is primarily determined by the broad-band thermal noise floor and not aliased by the high frequency noise [1]. Reducing the thermal noise floor requires higher value of input transconductance [1]. Consequently, more capacitance or higher output transconductance is required to stabilize the overall feedback loop with regular Miller compensation. A 6.5nV/√Hz conditionally stable chopper operational amplifier has been reported, using multi-pole feedforward compensation techniques [2]. Unconditionally stable chopper operational amplifiers presented so far exhibit more than 10nV/√Hz noise PSD [1,3–5]. This paper reports a 5.9nV/√Hz unconditionally stable chopper operational amplifier with 1.47mA supply current and 1.26mm2 die area, achieved by phase compensation using current attenuation. In addition, adaptive clock level shift and backgate biasing for the input chopping allows optimization for noise and offset, realizing 0.78μV maximum offset with a worst-case 28.3nV/°C drift.
CUSTOMER LIFETIME VALUE: MARKETING MODELS AND APPLICATIONS

Abstract Customer lifetime value has been a mainstay concept in direct response marketing for many years, and has been increasingly considered in the field of general marketing. However, the vast majority of literature on the topic (a) has been dedicated to extolling its use as a decision-making criterion; (b) has presented isolated numerical examples of its calculation/determination; and (c) has considered it as part of the general discussions of profitability and discussed its role in customer acquisition decisions and customer acquisition/retention trade-offs. There has been a dearth of general modeling of the topic. This paper presents a series of mathematical models for determination of customer lifetime value. The choice of the models is based on a systematic theoretical taxonomy and on assumptions grounded in customer behavior. In addition, selected managerial applications of these general models of customer lifetime value are offered.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY WITHOUT BORDERS

Where is "Victorian autobiography" in the late 1990s? Everywhere and nowhere. Al ways contested as a genre, autobiography has stretched its fragile boundaries and diffused itself among the many forms of self-representation that interest contemporary critics: travel narratives, letters, journals, fiction, poetry, essays, biography. This diffusion is in many ways a fruitful development, although it raises the question of whether "Victorian autobiography" is still a meaningful category to use in describing critical work. Although I concentrate here on a number of recent books that flourish the word "autobiography" in their titles, I come to this review with a sense that some of the most vital work on Victorian self-representation may be flying under different banners. The 1980s and early 1990s produced some defining work, both in autobiography
Current contact lens care systems

Contact lens care has been revolutionized and simplified with the development of multipurpose solutions, less sensitizing preservatives and disinfectants, better protein removers, and reaction-free, one-bottle care systems for patients who have had adverse responses to existing care products. As the complexity of lens care has decreased, compliance has increased. Nevertheless, good compliance is dependent on technician training and a thorough understanding of the chemistry and mechanism of action of each care system. Care products are constantly evolving, and the practitioner should become familiar with each new solution as it is introduced to ensure that patients are also kept up-to-date.
Lymphatic differentiation in renal angiomyolipomas

Renal angiomyolipomas are mesenchymal neoplasms with varying proportions of smooth muscle, adipose tissue, and abnormal blood vessels. Although the presence of lymphangiomatous-like foci is frequently noted in large series of angiomyolipoma, lymphatic differentiation has not been previously studied. Twelve angiomyolipomas from 10 patients were identified. All tumors expressed a melanocytic marker, HMB-45 or Melan-A. Twenty-eight paraffin blocks (1-4 per tumor) were stained for lymphatic endothelial cell markers, podoplanin, and D2-40, and the presence and distribution of lymphatic differentiation were recorded. The angiomyolipomas ranged from typical triphasic tumors to leiomyoma-like and lipoma-like tumors. All 12 tumors showed positive staining with podoplanin, and all 6 tumors stained for D2-40 were also positive, indicative of lymphatic differentiation. Lymphatic differentiation was variably observed throughout the tumors. It was most prevalent in myoid areas of the triphasic angiomyolipomas and in the leiomyoma-like variant, but infrequent and widely scattered within the adipose regions of triphasic angiomyolipoma and in the lipoma-like variant. The lymphatics were usually small, often irregularly shaped, and isolated vessels in fat, whereas in myoid regions lymphatics were clustered and in some areas formed a sinusoidal or labyrinth-like pattern. Lymphatics were commonly adjacent to abnormal arteries. However, unlike the lymphatics in the normal renal cortex, a consistent adventitial association was not observed and the clustering around arteries is regarded as reflecting the myoid regions that typically exist in these areas. In conclusion, lymphatic differentiation is common in angiomyolipomas, preferentially located in myoid regions. These data expand the mesenchymal pluripotential profile of renal angiomyolipomas.
Nasal Dosimetry of Inhaled Gases and Particles: Where Do Inhaled Agents Go in the Nose?:

The anatomical structure of the nasal passages differs significantly among species, affecting airflow and the transport of inhaled gases and particles throughout the respiratory tract. Since direct measurement of local nasal dose is often difficult, 3-dimensional, anatomically accurate, computational models of the rat, monkey, and human nasal passages were developed to estimate regional transport and dosimetry of inhaled material. The computational models predicted that during resting breathing, a larger portion of inspired air passed through olfactory-lined regions in the rat than in the monkey or human. The models also predicted that maximum wall mass flux (mass per surface area per time) of inhaled formaldehyde in the nonsquamous epithelium was highest in monkeys (anterior middle turbinate) and similar in rats and humans (dorsal medial meatus in the rat and mid-septum in the human, near the squamous/nonsquamous epithelial boundary in both species). For particles that are 5 μm in aerodynamic diameter, p...
Mysteriosos Demystified: Topical Strategies Within and Beyond the Silent Cinema

Musical topoi, such as religioso, battle, oriental etc., abound in generic silent film compositions (“photoplay music”) and catalogs of pieces for cinema musicians in the 1920s. As topoi are indeed useful to evoke meanings and to quickly produce a musical accompaniment for actions, they had been established in dramatic genres and program music long before film music became a profession after World War I. Misteriosos are a case in point to illustrate the formation and longevity of a musical topos from stage melodramas to sound films. When long feature films became mass entertainment and montage techniques advanced, cinema musicians had to develop new cataloging systems in order to gain control over a vast and rapidly growing repertoire of music suitable to accompany complex screen dramas at short notice. Accordingly, the catalogs grew increasingly complex and provided multidimensional taxonomies of nested categories by the end of the silent period.
MILA: multilevel immune learning algorithm

The biological immune system is an intricate network of specialized tissues, organs, cells, and chemical molecules. T-cell-dependent humoral immune response is one of the complex immunological events, involving interaction of B cells with antigens (Ag) and their proliferation, differentiation and subsequent secretion of antibodies (Ab). Inspired by these immunological principles, we proposed a Multilevel Immune Learning Algorithm (MILA) for novel pattern recognition. It incorporates multiple detection schema, clonal expansion and dynamic detector generation mechanisms in a single framework. Different test problems are studied and experimented with MILA for performance evaluation. Preliminary results show that MILA is flexible and efficient in detecting anomalies and novelties in data patterns.
A case study: implementing novell identity management at Drew University

Starting in 2003, Drew University began a process to replace its manual account management procedures with an automated provisioning system based upon Novell technologies. Over the past two years, the scope of this project has expanded beyond managing network accounts, to include providing identity and data integration services for a wide variety of third-party and home-grown applications encompassing everything form our campus ID card system to an admitted students' portal.This paper will present a case-study in Drew's implementation of Novell identity management solutions for meta-directories, provisioning, and single-sign-on. Attendees will see realistic examples of the integration challenges we faced and how we solved them.Among the challenges faced in the implementation of this solution was integration with Drew's twenty year old legacy administrative system. This paper will show how we have been able to overcome the technical and non-technical challenges associated with legacy system integration. This paper will also show how we were able to replace the numerous ad-hoc connections that had been made between this system and other applications over its lifespan with a single bridge to the identity management system, thereby reducing costs, allowing us to support more applications, and increasing the longevity and usefulness of the legacy administrative system as well as the information contained within it.Many institutions are currently facing the challenges associated with implementing identity management solutions. Technical managers who are interested in seeing how this technology can be applied to build a powerful infrastructure for supporting a wide variety of applications should read this paper.
A mechanically steerable array antenna using controllable dielectric phase shifters for 77 GHz automotive radar systems

A mechanically steerable antenna using an adjustable dielectric phase shifter was designed and developed for automotive radar applications. We demonstrated that a movable dielectric slab placed on a coplanar waveguide (CPW) could be used as a phase shifter (J. Cha et al., 2005). The required dielectric constant of /spl epsi//sub r/ = 5.6 can be designed using a ceramic composite material. Numerical simulations using Ansoft HFSS and Designer were conducted at 77 GHz. The microstrip transmission line to a WR-12 waveguide transition as the initial feeding point has also been investigated (H. Iizuka et al., 2002).
Differential Evanescence Nanometry: Live-Cell Fluorescence Measurements with 10-nm Axial Resolution on the Plasma Membrane

We present a method to resolve components within a diffraction-limited object by tracking simultaneously the average axial positions of two different sets of fluorescent molecules within it. The axial positions are then subtracted from each other to determine the separation of the two sets of fluorophores. This method follows the dynamic changes in the separation of the two sets of fluorophores with freely rotating dipoles using sequential acquisitions with total internal reflection and wide-field illumination, and it can be used to measure the formation of small structures on living cells. We have verified that we can achieve a resolution of 10 nm, and we have used the method to follow the location of clathrin and its adaptor AP-2 as they are recruited to a diffraction-limited coated pit during its assembly at the plasma membrane. We find a gradually increasing axial separation between the centroids of clathrin and AP-2 distribution, up to a final value of 30 nm just before coated-pit pinching and formation of the coated vesicle.
Significance of Neandertal and Denisovan Genomes in Human Evolution

DNA evidence is changing the field of paleoanthropology. Genomes have been recovered from Neandertals and from a previously unknown archaic human population represented at Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains. Both populations contributed to the ancestry of living human populations; Neandertals account for between 1% and 4% of the ancestry of people outside sub-Saharan Africa, and Denisovans contribute from 1% to 6% of the ancestry of people in island Southeast Asia and Oceania. These genomes lend new detail about the dynamics of Neandertal populations and help us to understand the diversity of the Middle Pleistocene ancestors of late archaic and modern humans worldwide. Further analyses have begun to uncover details about the phenotypes of archaic peoples and their contribution to the biology of recent humans. These insights have included new information about pigmentation, immunity, and the brain.
Novel Small-Molecule CX3CR1 Antagonist Impairs Metastatic Seeding and Colonization of Breast Cancer Cells.

Recent evidence indicates that cancer cells, even in the absence of a primary tumor, recirculate from established secondary lesions to further seed and colonize skeleton and soft tissues, thus expanding metastatic dissemination and precipitating the clinical progression to terminal disease. Recently, we reported that breast cancer cells utilize the chemokine receptor CX3CR1 to exit the blood circulation and lodge to the skeleton of experimental animals. Now, we show that CX3CR1 is overexpressed in human breast tumors and skeletal metastases. To assess the clinical potential of targeting CX3CR1 in breast cancer, a functional role of CX3CR1 in metastatic seeding and progression was first validated using a neutralizing antibody for this receptor and transcriptional suppression by CRISPR interference (CRISPRi). Successively, we synthesized and characterized JMS-17-2, a potent and selective small-molecule antagonist of CX3CR1, which was used in preclinical animal models of seeding and established metastasis. Importantly, counteracting CX3CR1 activation impairs the lodging of circulating tumor cells to the skeleton and soft-tissue organs and also negatively affects further growth of established metastases. Furthermore, nine genes were identified that were similarly altered by JMS-17-2 and CRISPRi and could sustain CX3CR1 prometastatic activity. In conclusion, these data support the drug development of CX3CR1 antagonists, and promoting their clinical use will provide novel and effective tools to prevent or contain the progression of metastatic disease in breast cancer patients. Implications: This work conclusively validates the instrumental role of CX3CR1 in the seeding of circulating cancer cells and is expected to pave the way for pairing novel inhibitors of this receptor with current standards of care for the treatment of breast cancer patients. Mol Cancer Res; 14(6); 518–27. ©2016 AACR.
Quadrat Sample Precision and Cost with a High-vacuum Insect Sampling Machine in Cotton Ecosystems

Accurate and reliable insect samplers must be used in an effective manner if predators are to be used in the integrated pest management (IPM) decision-making process for complex ecosystems; therefore, optimum sampling procedures were evaluated for a high-vacuum insect sampling machine (Insectavac) for use in cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. A total of 15 adult and immature insect groups was collected from 3 cotton fields, 12 times over a 3-yr period with an Insectavac. These data were used to evaluate the effect of quadrat size and number on the cost and precision of sampling in a cotton ecosystem. We sampled 340, 30.5-m quadrats end to end and 250, 61.0-m quadrats were sampled in a randomized complete block design over a 3-yr period. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and jackknife procedures. Variances obtained from the jackknife procedure were essentially the same as those obtained from the ANOVA. We concluded that sampling biases caused by patchy or clumped distributions of insects were not significant and the resulting estimates were unbiased. Because the insect populations were not significantly clumped, nothing was gained by the use of the jackknife procedure. Large quadrats resulted in significantly greater sampling variability because the extreme values from uneven distributions were higher than with smaller quadrat sizes. Advantages of small quadrats include a greater number of quadrats sampled for similar labor input which results in more degrees of freedom, better coverage of habitats within a field, and better representation of average insect densities.
A Simple Introduction to Integral Equations

Integral equations are equations in which the unknown function appears inside a definite integral. They are closely related to differential equations. Initial value problems and boundary value problems for ordinary and partial differential equations can often be written as integral equations (see [7] for an introduction to the technique), and some integral equations can be written as initial or boundary value problems for differential equations. Problems that can be cast in both forms are generally more familiar as differential equations, owing to the larger collection of analytical procedures for solving differential equations. Many applications are best modeled with integral equations, but most of these problems require a lengthy derivation. A relatively simple example is the model for population dynamics, with birth and death rates that depend on age. This model was first formulated in 1922 by Alfred J. Lotka [8], who is best known for the LotkaVolterra predator-prey population model. A similar model has been used to model the spread of the HIV virus among IV drug users [4]. A simple age-dependent population model will be developed at the end of this article. Integral equations are also important in the theory and numerical analysis of differential equations; this is where the mathematics student is most likely to encounter them. For example, Picard's existence and uniqueness theorem for first-order initial value problems is conveniently proved using integral equations [1]; the proof is constructive and can be used to formulate a method for numerical solution of initial value problems. Systematic study of integral equations is usually undertaken as part of a course in functional analysis (see [6]) or applied mathematics (see [9]). This advanced setting is required for a full appreciation of integral equation theory, but it makes the subject accessible only to the advanced student. By contrast, several of the important results in the theory of integral equations can be demonstrated using nothing more than elementary analysis, and the elaboration of this statement is the goal of the present discussion. In fact, all but one of the results presented here will be derived using nothing more than the material presented in a standard advanced calculus course. This gives less advanced students of mathematics a chance to encounter some integral equation concepts that play an important role in the theory and application of continuous mathematics.
Modeling receipt of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccinations among US children during the 2009-2010 flu season: findings from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey.

OBJECTIVE Using 32 weeks of data from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey, factors associated with receipt of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccinations among US children during October 2009 through February 2010 are examined. METHODS Logistic models estimated receipt of first dose by January 1, 2010 for all children aged 4.5 months through 17 years and receipt of second dose by February 1, 2010 for children aged 6 months through 9 years who received a first dose, using demographic characteristics and measures of family structure, parental education, family income, access to health care, and chronic condition status. All analyses were weighted to yield nationally representative results for the US child population. RESULTS Receipt of a seasonal influenza vaccination in the 12 months before October 2009 as well as race/ethnicity, family structure, and various measures representing family socioeconomic status were statistically significant correlates of receipt of the first pH1N1 dose, whereas children's asthma and chronic condition status were not. CONCLUSIONS In the event of future pandemics, public health officials may utilize these findings to target particular segments of the US child population that may have been underserved during the 2009 influenza pandemic.
A randomized, controlled trial of prophylactic ganciclovir for cytomegalovirus pulmonary infection in recipients of allogeneic bone marrow transplants; The City of Hope-Stanford-Syntex CMV Study Group.

Abstract Background. Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-associated interstitial pneumonia is a major cause of death after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. We conducted a controlled trial of ganciclovir in recipients of bone marrow transplants who had asymptomatic pulmonary CMV infection. We also sought to identify risk factors for the development of CMV interstitial pneumonia. Methods. After bone marrow transplantation, 104 patients who had no evidence of respiratory disease underwent routine bronchoalveolar lavage on day 35. The 40 patients who had positive cultures for CMV were randomly assigned to either prophylactic ganciclovir or observation alone. Ganciclovir (5 mg per kilogram of body weight intravenously) was given twice daily for two weeks and then five times per week until day 120. Results. Of the 20 culture-positive patients who received prophylactic ganciclovir, 5 (25 percent) died or had CMV pneumonia before day 120, as compared with 14 of the 20 culture-positive control patients (70 percent) who w...
Characterization of an ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake system in mouse pancreatic microsomes

The uptake of 45Ca2+ was studied in microsomes prepared from isolated mouse pancreatic acini. These microsomes accumulated 45Ca2+ in the presence of ATP; uptake was potentiated by addition of oxalate. Sequestered microsomal 45Ca2+ was only gradually removed by ethyleneglycol-bis(beta-aminoethylether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) but was readily released by the divalent cation ionophore A23187. Inhibitors of mitochondrial oxidation and mitochondrial calcium transport had little effect on microsomal 45Ca2+ uptake. A separate subcellular fraction enriched in plasma membranes took up 45Ca2+ poorly compared with the microsomal fraction. Half-maximal 45Ca2+ uptake by the microsomal fraction was observed at a free Ca2+ concentration of 1.1 microM. 45Ca2+ uptake was dependent on Mg-ATP and showed a pH optimum at 6.8-7.0. Subfractionation of the total microsomes into "heavy" and "light" microsomal fractions indicated higher 45Ca2+ uptake activity associated with the heavy fraction. A Ca2+-activated, Mg2+-dependent ATPase was demonstrated in this fraction. Stimulation of pancreatic acini with the cholecystokinin analogue caerulein prior to homogenization increased the subsequent rate of 45Ca2+ uptake by the microsomal fraction.
Approximating the Maximum Rectilinear Crossing Number

Drawing a graph in a way that minimizes the number of edge-crossings is a well-studied problem. Recently there has been work characterizing both the minimum and maximum number of edge-crossings possible in various graph classes, assuming rectilinear (straight-line) edges. In this paper, we investigate the algorithmic problem of maximizing the number of edge-crossings over all rectilinear drawings a graph. We show that this problem is NP-hard and lies in \(\exists \mathbb {R}\). We give a nontrivial derandomization of the natural randomized 1/3-approximation algorithm, which generalizes to a weighted setting as well as to an ordering constraint satisfaction problem. We evaluate these algorithms and other heuristics in simulation.
Review: Dark Space: Architecture, Representation, Black Identity, by Mario Gooden

Mario Gooden. Dark Space: Architecture, Representation, Black Identity New York: Columbia Books on Architecture and the City, 2016, 144 pp., 21 color and 26 b/w illus. $20, ISBN 9781941332139 “Identity is passe.” It was 2002, and the words stung. As an undergraduate applying to doctoral programs, I was searching for the vocabulary I needed to talk about the issues in design that were important to me. Identity, I determined, was one of them. The words came from a senior scholar I respected at a program I was pursuing, and suddenly what I envisioned as my academic trajectory seemed trivial and faddish. However, in the current political climate, with the 2015 Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges , the recent campaign of the first female candidate of a major party for the U.S. presidency, increased xenophobia and Islamophobia, and the continued visibility of grassroots movements like Black Lives Matter and the 2017 Women's March on Washington, it has become clear that identity is anything but passe. Mario Gooden takes on the issue of identity in architecture and wrestles with the notion of subjectivity throughout Dark Space . For him, how design contends with, reflects, directs, and responds to individual and collective identities—historical, present, and future—is an issue of utmost concern. The centering of identity—viewed through the lens of investigating subjectivity—within this design discourse is both paramount and timely. This book is one of only a few texts that deal with the history, theory, and criticism of the question of an African American architectural tradition.1 Most texts that emphasize race in relation to design are concerned with the historical consequences of inequity in the social construction of race, and how it has affected individuals and communities.2 Other texts address the interpretation of race, either in museum and monument design or in historic preservation.3 Finally, some texts strive to recognize the contribution of individual African American architects in an attempt to elevate their status and, perhaps, even make …
Predictors of Poor Outcome in Adult Patients with Fulminant Bacterial Meningitis (P04.017)

OBJECTIVE: To identify neurological findings, clinical characteristics, and treatments associated with poor outcome in patients with fulminant bacterial meningitis. BACKGROUND: Bacterial meningitis is associated with a high case fatality despite treatment with antibiotics. Intracranial and secondary medical comorbidities frequently lead to clinical deterioration. Recognition and directed therapy of these complications may lead to improved outcomes. DESIGN/METHODS: Retrospective chart review identified patients with fulminant bacterial meningitis, defined as meningitis resulting in coma (Glasgow Coma Scale RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients (ages 21-87) were identified. Most presented to the hospital after 2 days of symptoms and had encephalopathy (44%), coma (28%), seizures (3%) or a combination (26%) on admission. Average serum WBC on admission was 17 (range 2-46) and average CSF WBC was 6,498 (range 1-87,120). Positive blood cultures and/or CSF cultures were found in 28/38 patients (74%). The most common organism isolated was Streptococcus pneumoniae (57%, N=16), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (25%). Imaging (CT or MRI brain) was abnormal in 12/35 patients (34%). All patients were treated with broad spectrum antibiotics and 20/39 patients received steroids (75% given with first dose of antibiotics). Medical complications (sepsis, multisystem organ failure, MI) were seen in 23/39 patients (60%). Average mRS on discharge was 4 (range 1-6) and 16 patients died during hospitalization. Worse mRS on discharge was associated with older age (p=0.0199), low serum WBC (p=0.0125) and low CSF white cells (p=0.0012) at presentation, and medical complications (p=0.0061). CONCLUSIONS: Multiple comorbidities may lead to worse clinical outcomes in fulminant bacterial meningitis and therefore should be carefully documented and treated. Increasing age, and low serum and CSF WBC may also identify patients at risk. Disclosure: Dr. Muralidharan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mateen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rabinstein has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for Elsevier and Oxford. Dr. Rabinstein has received research support from Cardionet.
Low SNR neural spike detection using scaled energy operators for implantable brain circuits

Real time on-chip spike detection is the first step in decoding neural spike trains in implantable brain machine interface systems. Nonlinear Energy Operator (NEO) is a transform widely used to distinguish neural spikes from background noise. In this paper we define a general form of energy operators, of which NEO is a specific example, which gives better spike-noise separation than NEO and its derivatives. This is because of a non-linear scaling applied to the general discrete energy operator. Using two well-known publically available datasets, the performance of several operators is compared. On data sets that contain multi-unit spikes with low Signal to Noise ratio, the detection accuracy was improved by approximately 15%.
3 – STEADY-STATE SATURATED FLOW

We consider steady-state, incompressible, single-phase fluid flow satisfying the following continuity equation and Darcy's law:
Ensemble Machine Learning and Forecasting Can Achieve 99% Uptime for Rural Handpumps

Broken water pumps continue to impede efforts to deliver clean and economically-viable water to the global poor. The literature has demonstrated that customers' health benefits and willingness to pay for clean water are best realized when clean water infrastructure performs extremely well (>99% uptime). In this paper, we used sensor data from 42 Afridev-brand handpumps observed for 14 months in western Kenya to demonstrate how sensors and supervised ensemble machine learning could be used to increase total fleet uptime from a best-practices baseline of about 70% to >99%. We accomplish this increase in uptime by forecasting pump failures and identifying existing failures very quickly. Comparing the costs of operating the pump per functional year over a lifetime of 10 years, we estimate that implementing this algorithm would save 7% on the levelized cost of water relative to a sensor-less scheduled maintenance program. Combined with a rigorous system for dispatching maintenance personnel, implementing this algorithm in a real-world program could significantly improve health outcomes and customers' willingness to pay for water services.
Clinical Recognition of Congestive Heart Failure in Children

Abstract Heart failure (HF) in children can result from numerous etiologies, including primary cardiomyopathies, infections, drug/toxin exposure, genetic syndromes, and congenital heart disease. The clinical history and physical examination play a critical role in any evaluation of a pediatric patient in HF and can allow for appropriate treatment before diagnostic testing has been completed. Specific findings on historical interrogation and examination are very dependent on the age at presentation of the patient and the ultimate diagnosis.
Balancing selection and trans-specific polymorphisms

Balancing selection maintains variation for evolution. A recent study investigated the extent of balancing selection in two Brassicaceae species and highlighted its importance for adaptation.
"Curious George Goes to the Hospital": teaching toddlers how good healthcare works.

I found Bell’s paper on Peppa Pig both amusing and deep.1 As the father of a 3 year old girl I’d like to discuss an episode of Curious George titled “Curious George Goes to the Hospital,” which is a positive example of how hospitals and diseases can be effectively explained to toddlers without resorting to magic or sugar coated scenarios. …
Factor VIII, Protein C and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: The REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Study (REGARDS).

Background Haemostatic balance represented by low protein C (PC) and elevated factor VIII (FVIII) has been inconsistently associated with stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. Objective This article assesses whether an elevated FVIII and a low PC would increase cardiovascular risk more than either individually. Patients and Methods REGARDS recruited 30,239 black and white U.S. participants aged ≥ 45 years between 2003 and 2007. FVIII and PC were measured in a case–cohort sample of 646 stroke, 654 CHD, and a 1,104-person random sample with follow-up for approximately 4.5 years. Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using Cox models adjusted for demographic and cardiovascular risk factors. Results Elevated FVIII (per standard deviation [SD] increase) was associated with increased risk of both stroke (HR, 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08, 1.46) and CHD (HR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.29, 1.79), while there was no association of PC per SD decrease. For PC, there was a trend towards increased cardiovascular disease risk in the lowest values (bottom 5%). For stroke, there was no interaction between FVIII and low PC ( p interaction = 0.55). For CHD, the adjusted HR of FVIII per SD increase was significantly greater with PC in the bottom 5% (HR, 3.59; 95% CI, 1.39, 8.29) than PC in the upper 95% (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.23, 1.71; p interaction = 0.07). Conclusion Higher FVIII was associated with both CHD and stroke risk and the risk potentiated by low PC for CHD. Findings demonstrate that risks for cardiovascular diseases conferred by adverse levels of haemostasis biomarkers may be augmented by levels of other biomarkers.
Homoclinic solutions for a higher order difference equation

Abstract By using the critical point theory, the existence of at least three homoclinic solutions is established for a higher order difference equation defined on Z with p -Laplacian and containing both advance and retardation. Some known results in the literature are extended and complemented.
Factor Structure of the K-ABC for Cantonese, English, and Punjabi Speaking Canadians

The purpose of this study was to examine the construct validity (internal structure) of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) for use with Cantonese, English, and Punjabi speaking Canadians. A confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the sequential/simultaneous theoretical model was supported by the English and Punjabi data: however, the Cantonese data did not exhibit a good fit with this model. Similarly, the results of the exploratory factor analysis suggested that sequential and simultaneous factors could apply when describing the factor structure of the English and Punjabi data, but not for the Cantonese data. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Themes in Therapist Development During the First Three Months of Clinical Experience

The results of a qualitative research study designed to better understand the developmental processes active in beginning therapists during the first three months of clinical contact is reported. Thirteen beginning therapists were asked to complete a monthly log describing experiences impacting their clinical work and themselves as therapists during their first three months of client contact. Data analysis revealed that the primary developmental theme active during this period of time is the development of therapist confidence. Two additional themes, the development of an internal gauge on which to evaluate current experiences and the development of boundaries around the self as a professional, were also found to be active during this time. These additional themes support the development of therapist confidence. Implications for training and research are identified.
The Unbounded Knapsack Problem

This paper presents a survey of the unbounded knapsack problem. We focus on the techniques for obtaining the optimal solutions, particularly those using the periodic structure of the optimal solutions when the knapsack weight-carrying capacity b is sufficiently large. In addition to reviewing existing algorithms on the subject, the paper also includes two new algorithms, one for finding the onset of the optimal periodic solutions in time O(nw 1), where w 1 is the weight of the best item, i.e. the item with the highest value-to-weight ratio, and a second one for finding the optimal solutions when the capacity b is below the critical value where the optimal periodic solution begins. The second algorithm has a worst-case time complexity of O(nw 1 v 1), where v 1 is the value of the best item.
Committed history and philosophy of the social sciences in the two Germanies.

The question of the social commitment of the sociologist, and the scientist in general, has become a burning issue facing the sociology of East and West alike, — though it may take different forms. (P. C. Ludz, “Sociology”, in C. D Kernig (ed.), Marxism, communism, and Western society (New York, 1973), vol. viii, p. 46.)
Strategies for Effective Chemical Information Retrieval

Abstract : We participated in the technology survey and prior art search subtasks of the TREC 2009 Chemical IR Track. This paper describes the methods developed for these two tasks. For the technology survey task, we propose a method that constructs highly structured queries to do retrieval on different fields of chemical patents and documents in a weighted way. The proposed method i) enriches these structured queries with synonyms of the chemicals that have been identified, and ii) uses simple entity recognition to extract information for increasing or decreasing weights of some terms and to filter out documents from the ranked list. For prior art search task; we propose an automated query generation method that uses all title words, and selects sets of terms from the claims, abstract and description fields of query patents to transform a query patent into a search query. From the selected terms, chemical entities are extracted and synonyms for the identified chemical entities are included from PubChem. Then structured queries are formed to do retrieval over different fields of documents with different weights. Furthermore a post-processing step is also proposed that i) filters out some of the retrieved documents from the ranked list because of date constraints and ii) utilizes the IPC similarities between query patent and its retrieved patents to re-rank the retrieved documents. Empirical results demonstrate the effectiveness of these methods in both tasks.
Demonstration of speckle-based compressive sensing system for recovering RF signals

We demonstrate measurement of RF signals in the 2-19 GHz band using a photonic compressive sensing (CS) receiver. The RF is modulated onto chirped optical pulses that then propagate through a multimode fiber that produces the random projections needed for CS via optical speckle. Our system makes 16 independent measurements per optical pulse and we demonstrate several calibration techniques to obtain the CS measurement matrix from these measurements. Then a standard penalized l1 norm method recovers amplitude, phase, and frequency of single-tone and two-tone RF signals with about 100 MHz resolution in a single 4.5 ns pulse. A novel subspace method recovers the frequency to about 20 kHz resolution over 100 pulses in a 2.8 microsecond time window. These experiments use discrete fiber-coupled optical components, but all necessary functions can be realized in photonic and electronic integrated circuits.
Modeling and predicting osteoarthritis progression: data from the osteoarthritis initiative.

Summary Objective The goal of this study was to model the longitudinal progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA) and build a prognostic tool that uses data collected in 1 year to predict disease progression over 8 years. Design To model OA progression, we used a mixed-effects mixture model and 8-year data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI)—specifically, joint space width measurements from X-rays and pain scores from the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire. We included 1243 subjects who at enrollment were classified as being at high risk of developing OA based on age, body mass index (BMI), and medical and occupational histories. After clustering subjects based on radiographic and pain progression, we used clinical variables collected within the first year to build least absolute shrinkage and selection (LASSO) regression models for predicting the probabilities of belonging to each cluster. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) represent predictive performance on held-out data. Results Based on joint space narrowing, subjects clustered as progressing or non-progressing. Based on pain scores, they clustered as stable, improving, or worsening. Radiographic progression could be predicted with high accuracy (AUC = .86) using data from two visits spanning 1 year, whereas pain progression could be predicted with high accuracy (AUC = .95) using data from a single visit. Joint space narrowing and pain progression were not associated. Conclusion Statistical models for characterizing and predicting OA progression promise to improve clinical trial design and OA prevention efforts in the future.
Outcomes of VD-PACE With Immunomodulatory Agent as a Salvage Therapy for Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma.

Abstract Background Aggressive relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) often requires salvage cytotoxic chemotherapy. We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of VD-PACE (bortezomib, dexamethasone, cisplatin, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, etoposide) with an immunomodulatory agent (IMiD) in RRMM. Patients and Methods We retrospectively reviewed the effectiveness and tolerability among 30 patients with RRMM receiving ≥ 1 cycle of VD-PACE + IMiD between January 2012 to April 2019. Results Of 30 patients, 26 (86%) had myeloma double refractory to protease inhibitors and IMiDs, and had received a median of 3 lines prior of therapy. The overall response rate was 67.7%, 13% patients experienced complete remission or better, and 13% experienced very good partial response. Median progression-free and median overall survival were 11 and 26 months, respectively. The most common grade 3 or higher adverse events were hematologic events, which were manageable. Conclusion VD-PACE + IMiD is an effective and tolerable salvage treatment for RRMM, with an impressive response rate in pretreated RRMM.
Thalamic gliomas: Advances in the surgical management

Abstract Thalamic glioma is a rare type of brain tumor with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Secondary to its deep-seated location and proximity to numerous eloquent structures, it has historically been considered an “inoperable” tumor. However, with recent technological advances in imaging and operative techniques, surgical resection has gradually become a more safe and valuable option in the management of these tumors. Preoperative DTT allows the visualization of white fiber tracts neighboring the thalamus, allowing surgeons to plan safer surgical approaches. Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US) provide further guidance, as minimally invasive approaches, including surgical retraction devices and laser therapy, and can be used to increase precision and reduce iatrogenic disruption of healthy brain tissues. While many challenges still exist, tremendous progress has been made in the surgical management of thalamic gliomas.
Integrating Chinese with western philosophy

This volume contains essays that discuss and/or involve dialogue between East and West, and the editors clearly have sought to encourage this sort of dialogue through the essays collected here. But such encouragement seems ultimately directed to a larger goal: some kind of integration between Western and Eastern philosophy, a process or development that reaches beyond long-separate traditions toward a genuine “world philosophy.” My own recent work has definitely been striving or working in that direction.
DO INSTITUTIONS PREFER HIGH‐VALUE ACQUIRERS? AN ANALYSIS OF TRADING IN STOCK‐FINANCED ACQUISITIONS

If owners of target shares in a stock-for-stock merger perceive the acquirer as overvalued, they should sell their holdings more aggressively to profit before such overvaluation dissipates. We study institutional owners of targets and find that slightly more than half liquidate their shares in stock mergers, consistent with high institutional-share turnover rates found in the prior literature. However, share retention is higher when valuation measures suggest greater acquirer overvaluation, regardless of whether institutional owners generally prefer growth or value stock. Institutions that prefer large-cap, growth stock are most enthusiastic about bids from large, high-valuation acquirers, and substantially increase their stakes in such deals.
An initiative to improve pneumococcal immunization counseling in children with nephrotic syndrome.

Immunization is essential in preventing life-threatening pneumococcal infections in children with nephrotic syndrome. An additional 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) series is required for children with nephrotic syndrome. Despite current practice guidelines, many children with nephrotic syndrome do not receive PPSV23. Our nephrology clinic conducted a quality improvement project to improve the overall rate of PPSV23 counseling to more than 70% within a 12-month period by applying several targeted interventions to raise providers’ awareness, improve communication with primary care providers, and increase provider adherence. Data was collected from the electronic health record (EHR), and monthly performance was tracked via monthly control charts and overall immunization counseling rate charts. We increased adherence to PPSV23 vaccination counseling from a baseline of 12 to 86%. The first intervention that effectively increased the vaccine counseling rate from 12 to 30% was improving a provider’s awareness of the PPSV23 literature and vaccine guidelines. Other interventions included regular performance reviews at division meetings, creating an immunization protocol, posting performance charts on the office bulletin board, and unifying vaccine recommendation templates. Lastly, specific and timely EHR reminders improved the total counseling rate from 52 to 86% and maintained adherence until the completion of the project. Bridging the knowledge gap in provider awareness and using specific EHR reminders can improve adherence to PPSV23 counseling in children with nephrotic syndrome. Such interventions could be applied to similar groups of immunocompromised patients in whom additional vaccines are indicated.
Reduced loss and improved mode discrimination in resonant optical waveguide arrays

Coherent laser arrays designed using resonant optical waveguides (ROWs) have proven to offer one of the most promising methods of monolithic beam combining in diode lasers. However, the high lateral transmission that provides strong optical coupling also leads to increased loss – a detriment to laser efficiency and performance. Presented is a derivation of additional design rules to eliminate lateral radiation loss from ROW arrays while still maintaining all the strong coupling properties. Additionally, it is speculated that improved mode discrimination and enhanced field uniformity should result from the proposed design modifications.