cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Real options in infrastructure projects: theory, practice and prospects

Developed from financial options theory and pricing models, real options have evolved to become a mainstream area of academic inquiry. This account traces the field generally from its origins to present day. Research has demonstrated the potential for real options to enhance project value by managing uncertainty through investment, structuring and design decisions. Despite this, real options theory is not widely used as a whole or within the discipline of infrastructure development and construction project management. The creation of infrastructure occurs almost exclusively in a project-based environment. Not surprisingly, project managers play a pivotal role in the success of such projects and make frequent decisions that shape and reshape implementation strategies. Perhaps, the path towards disseminating real options into infrastructure project practice is to improve the understanding of the managerial environment and behaviour. Hence, the characteristics of infrastructure projects and project managemen...
Analysis and experimental validation of a triaxial antenna for microwave tumor ablation

We apply a new triaxial antenna for microwave ablation procedures. The antenna consists of a coaxial monopole inserted through an 18-gauge biopsy needle positioned one quarter-wavelength from the antenna base. The biopsy needle creates a triaxial structure, which enhances return loss by more than 10 dB, thus limiting return currents along the feed line. Numerical simulations are used to optimize the antenna design. Numerical ex vivo experimental results are presented to quantify the field distribution, heating pattern and return loss of the antenna.
Generation of Handwriting by Active Shape Modeling and Global Local Approximation (GLA) Adaptation

The generation of handwriting is a complex task. In order to accommodate for the large variations involved in handwritten words deformable templates need to be used. In this paper we propose a handwriting model, based on Active shape modeling (ASM). In a two-step generation process, a template-based ASM generates characters and a Gaussian mixture regression (GMR) model concatenates the generated characters. For real time generation of cursive handwriting an adaptation of Global local approximation (GLA) methodology is used to fit the generated models.
Vertical motions of the tropical convective cloud spectrum over Darwin, Australia

Three months of profiler observations from Darwin, Australia are separated into seven cloud types (shallow, mid-level, and deep convective; weak and robust stratiform rain; and transitional and ice-only anvil) to provide vertical velocity statistics on the full spectrum of tropical convective clouds over the course of a monsoon season. Consistent with past studies, convective updraughts increase in height and magnitude as the convective cloud height increases. Shallow/mid-level/deep convection has a mean maximum value of 0.3 m s−1 at 3 km/0.6 m s−1 at 5 km/2.5 m s−1 at 8 km. Deep convective extremes approach 18 m s−1 above 8 km while downdraughts in all convective cloud types are maximum below 4 km. Stratiform vertical velocities are weaker and less varied than in active convection, with maximum mean values <0.25 m s−1. However, stratiform rain regions associated with larger near-surface reflectivities (and thus rain rates) have stronger mesoscale up- and downdraughts than weaker stratiform rain regions. Anvil cloud with little or no rain near the surface also exhibits mesoscale up- and downdraughts, but the vertical velocity profile is shifted up in height by at least 2 km. In addition, anvil updraughts were only 20–50% of the magnitudes in the stratiform rain region. Overall, the vertical motion statistics were similar across the pre-, active and suppressed monsoon periods. The vertical velocity distributions for each cloud type were also generally consistent with the reflectivity distributions (i.e. the strongest updraughts were often linked to the largest reflectivities), allowing for some linkages between the dynamical and microphysical cloud properties. For example, strong updraughts above the 0 °C level in deep convection are associated with strongly sloping reflectivity profiles supporting the importance of cold rain growth processes, and stronger vertical motions are associated with stratiform rain that has a robust bright band.
A Dynamic Theory of Collective Goods Programs

A collective goods program, such as an entitlement program, distributes benefits and costs according to constituents' characteristics. This paper presents a dynamic theory of the legislative choice of collective goods programs based on a sequential model of proposal-making and voting in a majority-rule legislature where the status quo in a session is given by the program last enacted. A stationary Markov perfect equilibrium is characterized for a unidimensional collective goods program and yields a generalized median voter theorem, comparative statics on preferences and legislative procedures, and a characterization of the dynamics of such programs. Equilibrium programs can expand or contract over time, but they ultimately converge to the median. On the path to that point, legislators may act strategically to address the durability problem—that a future legislature can undo the actions of the present legislature—by strategically positioning the status quo to limit the changes that future legislatures can make.
NASA Uncertainty Quantification Challenge: An Optimization-Based Methodology and Validation

The focus of this work is on uncertainty characterization, sensitivity analysis, uncertainty propagation, and extreme-case analysis. To deal with the computationally expensive and complex NASA problem, a simpler toy problem is devised to mimic the NASA problem for which the true results were known. The toy problem helped in thoroughly testing the current methods and their repeatability. For uncertainty characterization, a novel cumulative density function matching method is proposed, which gave similar results as a standard Markov chain–Monte Carlo-based Bayesian approach. An efficient reliability reanalysis-based probability-box sensitivity analysis method is employed to identify the most sensitive parameters to the risk analysis metrics. Uncertainty propagation to find extreme values for the risk analysis metrics is done using a single-loop efficient reliability reanalysis-based method. A modified version of the efficient reliability reanalysis is proposed that uses self-normalizing weights and caps on ...
Atomically Precise Gold Nanoclusters Catalyzed Chemical Transformations

Abstract This chapter summarizes the catalytic application of atomically precise Aun(SR)m nanoclusters. Structurally characterized nanoclusters can serve as new model catalysts for obtaining atomic/molecular level insights into some catalytic processes, including the precise size-dependent catalytic reactivity and how molecules are adsorbed and activated on the catalytic particle, as well as the structural sensitivity of the catalyst to the reactions. While this area is still in its infancy, promising work has been reported and demonstrated the catalytic power of nanoclusters. Such reactions include catalytic oxidation (e.g., CO oxidation to CO2, alcohol oxidation to aldehyde), catalytic hydrogenation (e.g., chemoselective hydrogenation), carbon–carbon coupling reactions, etc. In addition, precisely doped nanoclusters provide a unique opportunity to tune the catalytic reactivity on a truly atom-by-atom basis. Overall, atomically precise nanoclusters hold great promise in the discovery of unique catalytic processes as well as in advancing the fundamental understanding of catalytic mechanisms at the atomic/molecular level.
Seeing You in Me and Me in You: Personal Identification in the Phases of Mentoring Relationships

Identification is integral to mentoring relationships, yet we know relatively little about the process through which mentors and proteges identify with each other, how this mutual identification shifts through the phases of the mentoring relationship, and how identification impacts the quality of the relationship over time. In this article we integrate theories of the self, relationships, and relational mentoring to consider the role of identification in informal mentoring. Specifically, we theorize how the process of personal identification occurs in mentoring from the perspective of both the mentor and protege and offer a model that demonstrates how shifts in identification relate to the quality of the relationship that develops over time. We conclude with a discussion of implications for research and theory in mentoring.
The Effect Of Fix Rate And Fix Interval On First Passage Time Analysis

Recent epidemics of mountain pine beetles (Dendroctonus ponderosae) will fundamentally alter forests of the Intermountain West, impacting management decisions related to fire, logging, and wildlife habitat. We evaluated effects of a recent mountain pine beetle epidemic on site occupancy dynamics of > 60 avian species in four study units dominated by ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) in the Helena National Forest. Point count data were collected during the avian breeding seasons (May-Jul) of 2003-2006 (pre-epidemic) and again during 2009-2010 (post-epidemic). We used a Bayesian hierarchical model that accounts for detection probability to obtain occupancy estimates for rare and elusive species as well as common ones. We estimated occupancy and detection for all species with respect to the occurrence of the beetle outbreak, live tree density at fine scale (1 ha), and live tree density at coarse (landscape) scale (100 ha). Preliminary analyses focus on trends in occupancy for species of interest, such as the American Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus), as well as patterns of occupancy for nesting and foraging guilds. Results indicated diverse responses among species, with occupancy rates increasing for some and declining for others.
U.S. Money Supply and the Exchange Rate: Long-Run Effects on the World Feedgrain Market

The strength of the linkage between the U.S. money supply and U.S. feedgrain prices and exports over the long run depends on the responsiveness of exchange rates to money supply changes and of feedgrain markets to exchange rate changes. The link between the U.S. money supply and exchange rates is empirically weak. Moreover, U.S. feedgrain prices and exports respond little to exchange rate changes because of a relatively high U.S. export supply price elasticity and a low price responsiveness of highly protected foreign markets. Thus, money supply changes may have only a limited effect on the U.S. feedgrain market.
Age, Sex, and Other Factors

Evoked-response recording has provided a new tool for studying maturation and aging of the central nervous system (CNS). There is also evidence that the method may yield interesting information concerning sex differences. The manner in which responses may vary with age and sex is of obvious methodological importance in psychiatric studies; experimental designs must take such variations into account. Handedness, time of day and cardiorespiratory cycles are other factors of methodological significance to be considered in this chapter.
Examining the effectiveness of a multimedia case-based environment for teaching technology integration to Korean preservice teachers

The study described in this paper examined the effectiveness of a multimedia case-based learning environment to teach technology integration to Korean preservice teachers. The structure and philosophy behind the use of embedded video in an online, multimedia system and the data collected from 103 preservice teachers are presented and discussed. The overall finding shows that there was no significant difference from pre- to posttest among the lecture, the case-based, and the mixed environment groups. However, low prior knowledge students improved more when they learned about technology integration with the mixed method than with the case-based method alone. Discussion about this result and its educational implications conclude the paper.
Observation of Ferroelectricity and Structure-Dependent Magnetic Behavior in Novel One-Dimensional Motifs of Pure, Crystalline Yttrium Manganese Oxides

Multiferroic materials, such as nanostructured h-YMnO3, are expected to fulfill a crucial role as active components of technological devices, particularly for information storage. Herein, we report on the template mediated sol–gel synthesis of unique one-dimensional nanostructured motifs of hexagonal phase YMnO3, possessing a space group of P63cm. We found that the inherent morphology of the as-obtained h-YMnO3 nanostructures was directly impacted by the chemical composition of the employed membrane. Specifically, the use of anodic alumina and polycarbonate templates promoted nanotube and nanowire formation, respectively. Isolated polycrystalline nanotubes and single crystalline nanowires possessed diameters of 276 ± 52 nm, composed of 17 nm particulate constituent grains, and 125 ± 21 nm, respectively, with lengths of up to several microns. The structures and compositions of all our as-prepared products were probed by XRD, SEM, HRTEM, EXAFS, XANES, SAED, and far-IR spectroscopy. In the specific case of n...
Symptom-Hemodynamic Mismatch and Heart Failure Event Risk.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a heterogeneous condition of both symptoms and hemodynamics. Objective: The goals of this study were to identify distinct profiles among integrated data on physical and psychological symptoms and hemodynamics and quantify differences in 180-day event risk among observed profiles. Methods: A secondary analysis of data collected during 2 prospective cohort studies by a single group of investigators was performed. Latent class mixture modeling was used to identify distinct symptom-hemodynamic profiles. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to quantify difference in event risk (HF emergency visit, hospitalization, or death) among profiles. Results: The mean age (n = 291) was 57 ± 13 years, 38% were female, and 61% had class III/IV HF. Three distinct symptom-hemodynamic profiles were identified: 17.9% of patients had concordant symptoms and hemodynamics (ie, moderate physical and psychological symptoms matched the comparatively good hemodynamic profile), 17.9% had severe symptoms and average hemodynamics, and 64.2% had poor hemodynamics and mild symptoms. Compared with those in the concordant profile, both profiles of symptom-hemodynamic mismatch were associated with a markedly increased event risk (severe symptoms hazards ratio, 3.38; P = .033; poor hemodynamics hazards ratio, 3.48; P = .016). Conclusions: A minority of adults with HF have concordant symptoms and hemodynamics. Either profile of symptom-hemodynamic mismatch in HF is associated with a greater risk of healthcare utilization for HF or death.
Information Management System for Overall Lifecycle of Investment Item Based on Fixed Assets

The Information management system for all lifecycle of investment item based on fixed assets consists of item prophase, planned dispatching, implementing process, statistic, functional analyzing, law and rule of law manages etc. The implementing object of the system involves information sharing, network handle official business, criterion manage, item control and scientific decision-making. The functional design of the system is divided into designs of main body, manage module, data flaw analysis, and item prophase, plan, process control etc.
Late results of surgery for left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in children.

Forty-four patients, with a mean age at surgery of 10 years, were followed for 5 to 16 years (mean 9.7 years) after relief of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. There were no early deaths, but 5 late deaths occurred, 3 following reoperation. Twenty-five patients were recatheterized from 1 to 16 years later (mean 6.6 years). In 21 of 32 patients (66 per cent), a new diastolic murmur followed relief of valvular stenosis; 25 (78 per cent) of these patients had a postoperative diastolic murmur. Seventeen of these 25 (68 per cent) were recatheterized, and 11 of the 17 (65 per cent) had moderate-to-severe aortic incompetence on angiography. Eight patients (18 per cent) have undergone reoperation and 9 more (20 per cent) will have to be reoperated upon soon. Although the aortic valve gradient and left ventricular stroke pressure were reduced in all obstructive types after surgery, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure significantly increased and cardiac index decreased after valvotomy. Cardiomegaly and electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities were present in 45 and 66 per cent, respectively, of all postoperative patients. Although 92 per cent of patients may be expected to survive and 82 per cent be reoperation free at 10 years, further surgery thereafter becomes increasingly common. Timely relief of obstruction prevents sudden death and produces excellent symptomatic improvement, but the operation is only palliative. Development of a reliable pediatric valve and ventriculo-aortic conduit may encourage earlier and more aggressive therapy.
A new surgical approach to traumatic rectourethral fistulas.

AbstractTo solve the dual problem of recurring stenosis of the posterior urethra and difficult closure of the fistulous tract in traumatic rectourethral fistulas the Johanson urethroplasty has been used in 4 cases of lower fistulas and the direct urethra-bladder neck anastomosis has been used in 4 cases of upper fistulas. The good results obtained seem to confirm the value of these methods. Direct urethra-bladder neck anastomosis also has been used successfully to treat posterior urethral strictures.
Transmuting Dido: Marot, Du Bellay and the Displacement of Ovidian and Virgilian Authority in Translatio

Among classical heroines, the figure of Dido pervades the works of Renaissance writers and contemporary reflections on exemplarity. French humanist poets Clement Marot and Joachim Du Bellay exploit this ambivalent and topical figure to emulate and displace as authors Virgil and Ovid (Aeneid III–IV; Heroides VII). Beyond translation as transcription (traductio), the poetic, political and ethical appropriations penned by Marot and Du Bellay reveal clear ties to translatio studii et imperii. In Marot’s Epistre de Maguelonne (1532) and Du Bellay’s verse triptych centred on Dido (1552), traditional points of praise and blame are subverted and displaced, while conflicting themes and ends surround the polysemy of translatio and the related question of poetic authority in the French sixteenth century. Pagan love, the locus of strong ambivalence (mad vs. virtuous), is transmuted. A dynamic of conversion (Marot) and compensation (Du Bellay) emerges. It bolsters a new French appropriation of ancient models driven by fantasies of moral superiority, political autonomy, literary legitimacy (minors/auctores), and individual mastery. More generally, the interplay between poetic creation, power, and displacement, offers a glimpse into how ambitious vernacular translations frame and appropriate major works.
Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation: What's in a Name?

In Reply > That which we call a rose, By any other name would smell as sweet. > > —William Shakespeare Chatburn finds fault in our description of intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV),[1][1] as we primarily discuss IMV as first described by Downs.[2][2] That is, a preset mandatory rate with
Conditions for Robust Principal Component Analysis

Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is the problem of finding a lowrank approximation to a matrix. It is a central problem in statistics, but it is sensitive to sparse errors with large magnitudes. Robust PCA addresses this problem by decomposing a matrix into the sum of a low-rank matrix and a sparse matrix, thereby separating out the sparse errors. This paper provides a background in robust PCA and investigates the conditions under which an optimization problem, Principal Component Pursuit (PCP), solves the robust PCA problem. Before introducing robust PCA, we discuss a related problem, sparse signal recovery (SSR), the problem of finding the sparsest solution to an underdetermined system of linear equations. The concepts used to solve SSR are analogous to the concepts used to solve robust PCA, so presenting the SSR problem gives insight into robust PCA. After analyzing robust PCA, we present the results of numerical experiments that test whether PCP can solve the robust PCA problem even if previously proven sufficient conditions are violated. Acknowledgements: I would like to thank my advisor Prof. Deanna Needell for introducing me to robust PCA and helping me through the process of writing the paper. Her feedback greatly improved the manuscript. I would like to thank the reviewer for helpful suggestions which improved both the proofs and the readability of the paper. This paper was written for the Vertical Integration of Research and Education program (VIGRE) in the Stanford Statistics Department. Page 138 RHIT Undergrad. Math. J., Vol. 12, No. 2
Learning with immigrant children, families and communities: the imperative of early childhood teacher education

AbstractThis article reports on a longitudinal study spanning over 5 years, involving the design and implementation of an early childhood teacher education program model that engages a critical-ecological theoretical approach, a funds of knowledge perspective, and design-based methodology. This project aimed to promote equitable education for all children, and especially for young immigrant children encountering situations of oppression within the national and local educational contexts in Arizona. In this teacher education program, families, community members, researchers, pre-service teachers and teachers worked together to develop new modes of curricular activity, new spaces, new relationships, and new forms of movement among participants, as well as new circulations of literacy artefacts.
Longitudinal assessment of childhood optic gliomas: Relationship between brain imaging and optic pathway function

2087 Background: To evaluate longitudinally the relationship between brain imaging and functional findings in childhood optic gliomas (OG) by comparing over time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) wi...
Breaking the Boundaries in Heterogeneous-ISA Datacenters

Energy efficiency is one of the most important design considerations in running modern datacenters. Datacenter operating systems rely on software techniques such as execution migration to achieve energy efficiency across pools of machines. Execution migration is possible in datacenters today because they consist mainly of homogeneous-ISA machines. However, recent market trends indicate that alternate ISAs such as ARM and PowerPC are pushing into the datacenter, meaning current execution migration techniques are no longer applicable. How can execution migration be applied in future heterogeneous-ISA datacenters?In this work we present a compiler, runtime, and an operating system extension for enabling execution migration between heterogeneous-ISA servers. We present a new multi-ISA binary architecture and heterogeneous-OS containers for facilitating efficient migration of natively-compiled applications. We build and evaluate a prototype of our design and demonstrate energy savings of up to 66% for a workload running on an ARM and an x86 server interconnected by a high-speed network.
The Test Characteristic Curve

Item response theory is based upon the individual items of a test, and up to this point the chapters have dealt with the items one at a time. Now, attention will be given to dealing with all the items in a test at once. When scoring a test, the response made by an examinee to each item is dichotomously scored . A correct response is given a score of 1 and an incorrect response a score of 0; the examinee’s raw test score is obtained by adding up the item scores. This raw test score will always be an integer number and will range from 0 to J, where J is the number of items in the test. If examinees were to take the test again, assuming they did not remember how they previously answered the items, a different raw test score would be obtained. Hypothetically, an examinee could take the test a great many times and obtain a variety of test scores. One would anticipate that these scores would cluster themselves around some average value. In measurement theory, this value is known as the true score and its definition depends upon the particular measurement theory. In item response theory , the definition of a true score according to D.N. Lawley is used.
Streamflow Synthesis—A Case Study

A statistical simulation of monthly streamflow sequences in a multiple-site configuration in the Tahoe-Truckee system, is presented. Data preparation consisted of: (1) Conversion of historic streamflow values, wherever necessary, to what the values would be if it were not for the regulation effort; and (2) reconstitution of missing flow values in the record. The general statistical properties of the simulated sequences were found to be comparable to those of historic sequences. Inconsistencies which were discovered with regard to monthly water balance of the simulated sequences are outlined.
Granulocyte oxidative activity after thermal injury.

BACKGROUND Alterations in granulocyte function after thermal injury have been described. We have serially studied the level of granulocyte cytosolic peroxidase activity in 23 thermally injured patients during the first 6 weeks after injury. The patients' mean age and burn size were 35.1 +/- 15.7 years and 41.6% +/- 16.8% (range, 18% to 88%), respectively. Fourteen patients had concomitant inhalation injury, and the overall mortality rate was 4.3%. METHODS Purified granulocytes were obtained from peripheral blood after red cell lysis and Ficoll-Hypaque (Pharmacia Inc., Piscataway, N.J.) gradient separation. Cells were loaded with dichlorofluorescin diacetate, and baseline fluorescence was measured by flow cytometry. After phorbol myristate acetate stimulation, fluorescence was measured again. Cells from unburned normal subjects were used as daily controls. RESULTS The data are expressed as percent of stimulated control granulocyte fluorescence. Unstimulated patient granulocytes demonstrated a significantly higher baseline activity than did unstimulated controls (22.9% vs 15.4%; p < 0.05). Mean fluorescence from stimulated granulocytes was 114% of the control values (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Granulocytes from thermally injured patients exhibited a baseline increase in cytosolic oxidase activity, suggesting in vivo activation and a greater than normal oxidase activity after in vitro stimulation.
Cross product in four dimensions and beyond

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses cross product in four dimensions and beyond. Cross product is one of God's great gifts to mankind. It has many applications in mathematics, physics, engineering, and, computer graphics. Normal vectors, rotations, curl, angular momentum, torque, and magnetic fields make use of the cross product. Given two linearly independent vectors u and ν in three dimensions, their cross product is the vector u × ν, perpendicular to the plane of u and v and oriented according to the right-hand rule. There is a way to look at the cross product that is more instructive than the standard definition and that generalizes readily to four dimensions and beyond. The tensor product is closely related to the dot product. Like dot product, the tensor product makes sense for two vectors of arbitrary dimension. Indeed, the tensor product shares many of the algebraic properties of the dot product. The wedge product of two vectors u and ν measures the noncommutativity of their tensor product. Like the tensor product, the wedge product is defined for two vectors of arbitrary dimension. The wedge product also shares some other important properties with the cross product.
Tools of State: Using Research to Inform Policy Decisions in Higher Education

For many decades, states and the federal government have used both qualitative and quantitative studies to inform policy decisions, yet there have been longstanding concerns among qualitative researchers that their work is treated as second class. This paper examines an alternative construction of the problem. Policymakers in states and federal agencies treat policy research as tools of stateâ€”instruments to be used by policy makersâ€”a practice in conflict with the moral stance of many qualitative researchers. Recognizing this problem, I provide guidance for constructing quantitative and qualitative research to inform decisions on policies on equity in preparation for, access to, and academic success in higher education without undermining the researchers’ quest for truth.
Sex differences in patterns of prescription opioid non-medical use among 10-18 year olds in the US.

Abstract Background Non-medical use (NMU) of prescription opioids is a public health concern and sex differences in prevalence of NMU have been observed previously. Little is known about how youth are obtaining and using these drugs. While any regular use could be problematic, NMU is particularly concerning. More information is needed on NMU patterns among youth and how these patterns might differ by sex. Methods The National Monitoring of Adolescent Prescription Stimulants Study (N-MAPSS) recruited youth 10–18 years of age from 10 US metropolitan areas from 2008 to 2011 with a final sample of 11,048 youth. The cross-sectional survey included questions on past 30 day use of prescription opioids (10,965 provided responses), with NMU defined as non-oral use and/or use of someone else's opioids. NMU through use of a patient's own prescription orally for a reason other than prescribed could not be identified, though this is usually contained within the standard definition of NMU. Results Among the 10,965 youth, past 30 day prevalence of NMU of prescription opioids was 3.1% (n = 345) with 59.7% (n = 206) using someone else's opioids only, 5.2% (n = 18) having non-oral use only and 35.1% (n = 121) having both. In total, seven sources and three routes of administration were assessed. The most common source among males was someone from school (n = 111, 60.0%), with no highly prevalent second source. Among females, there were two prevalent sources of prescription opioids; a parent (n = 59,41.6%) and someone from school (n = 53,37.3%). For non-oral use, snorting prescription opioids was more frequent among males compared to females (n = 85, 31.8% and n = 44, 17.1%; p Conclusions Based on these findings, to combat the current opioid crisis, implementation of strategies to prevent youth from sharing opioids, especially with friends from school, should be considered and tested.
The Reciprocal Relations Between Female and Male Play Partners and Aggression in Early Childhood

This study examined the relations between male and female play partners (PP) and relational (RA) and physical (PA) aggression in an early childhood short-term longitudinal study (N = 164, Mage = 47.11 months, SD = 7.37 months). A cross-lagged path analysis was used to examine these relations from Time 1 (T1) to Time 2 (T2), 4 months after T1, and a multiple group analysis was tested across gender. Results showed that T1 male PP predicted an increase in PA, T1 RA predicted an increase in female PP, and T1 PA predicted a decrease in female PP. One path was not equivalent across gender. A post hoc interaction between male and female PP at T1 on future RA was evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Tailoring the glassy mesophase range of thermotropic polyesters through copolymerization of 4,4’-bibenzoate and kinked isomer

Abstract The substitution of a linear biphenyl monomer with its meta isomer in liquid crystalline polyesters affords (co)polyesters with tunable liquid crystalline (LC) and thermomechanical properties. Melt transesterification afforded two (co)polyester series based on the semi-aromatic homopolymers poly(diethylene glycol 4,4′ bibenzoate) and poly(butylene 4,4′ bibenzoate) at high molecular weights. In each series, the linear dimethyl-4,4′ bibenzoate (4,4’BB) was systematically exchanged with its kinked isomer, dimethyl-3,4′ bibenzoate (3,4’BB). The incorporation of the meta isomer resulted in tunable crystalline and LC properties. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and polarized optical microscopy (POM) elucidated that the kinked structure of 3,4’BB disrupted crystallization at low incorporations, significantly lowering the melting transition temperature (>50 °C) in each series. The LC properties were less impacted due to the biphenyl structure resulting in LC glasses with wide mesogenic windows. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) further demonstrated the tunable nature of the thermomechanical properties resulting from the (co)polymerization of these isomers.
New search pipeline for compact binary mergers: Results for binary black holes in the first observing run of Advanced LIGO

In this paper, we report on the construction of a new and independent pipeline for analyzing the public data from the first observing run of Advanced LIGO for mergers of compact binary systems. The pipeline incorporates different techniques and makes independent implementation choices in all its stages including the search design, the method to construct template banks, the automatic routines to detect bad data segments (``glitches'') and to insulate good data from them, the procedure to account for the nonstationary nature of the detector noise, the signal-quality vetoes at the single-detector level and the methods to combine results from multiple detectors. Our pipeline enabled us to identify a new binary black hole merger GW151216 in the public LIGO data. This paper serves as a bird's eye view of the pipeline's important stages. Full details and derivations underlying the various stages will appear in accompanying papers.
Diagnostic Imaging of Mesothelioma

Medical imaging is critical to the diagnosis and management of malignant pleural mesothelioma, being linked to diagnosis, staging, clinical management, surgical planning, and surveillance. Chest radiography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) all play distinct roles in the assessment of this specific patient population; invariably, the discovery and initial diagnosis of this disease centers on imaging. Optimizing imaging protocols and the ordering of imaging examinations is important to increase sensitivity and early detection. Starting with plain radiographs, this chapter will trace the strengths and weaknesses of each imaging modality as they pertain to pleural mesothelioma and will lead the reader to make improved choices concerning patient care. Having a thorough appreciation of the role of imaging in this specific population is especially important to optimize patient outcomes.
National Patterns of Breast Reconstruction and Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy for Breast Cancer, 2005-2015.

The purpose of this study was to explore national patterns in the uptake of breast reconstruction and nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM). We used the National Cancer Database to identify all women who underwent mastectomy for stage 0–III breast cancer between 2005–2015. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with receipt of reconstruction, with subset analyses performed to determine trends and predictors of NSM in those who underwent mastectomy with reconstruction. Our cohort consisted of 395,815 women, 238,568 (60.3%) who underwent mastectomy alone and 157,247 (39.7%) who underwent mastectomy followed by reconstruction. The use of breast reconstruction increased from 22.3% of mastectomy cases in 2005 to 49.7% of mastectomy cases in 2015 (odds ratio [OR] 9.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 7.3–12.8). Among those receiving reconstruction, the use of NSM increased from 1.7% in 2005 to 14.3% in 2015 (OR 9.4, 95% CI 7.1–12.5), with increased utilization among those with early-stage and locally advanced disease, such that by 2015, NSM was performed in 15.3% of mastectomies with reconstruction for DCIS, 14.3% of mastectomies with reconstruction for stage I–II breast cancer, and 10.7% of mastectomies with reconstruction for stage III breast cancer. Factors strongly predicting receipt of NSM included age < 45 years, smaller clinical tumor size, clinically node negative disease, use of neoadjuvant therapy, and facility type. There has been a dramatic increase in the use of breast reconstruction and NSM between 2005–2015. Further prospective studies evaluating oncologic outcomes of NSM in locally advanced breast cancer are warranted.
Using the Cultural Formulation Interview in Intercultural Psychotherapy

Investigators and clinicians in the field of cultural mental health have long noted that culture constructs fundamental forms of knowledge and practice that influence how psychotherapies are theorised, developed, and conducted. This chapter discusses the potential uses of the DSM-5 Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) within intercultural psychotherapy. We review challenges that may emerge within the cross-cultural therapeutic encounter, recommendations to overcome these challenges, and the extent to which the clinician’s application of the CFI responds to these recommendations. The CFI is a systematic tool for case formulation that can help clinicians operationalise the recommendations of intercultural psychotherapists into specific questions during clinical assessment and treatment implementation. The person-centred cultural information thus obtained may be used to guide treatment choice, negotiate psychotherapy goals, understand transference and countertransference reactions, and develop the therapeutic alliance. The CFI can serve as a useful standardised framework to fulfil the tasks of intercultural psychotherapy.
Previously Diagnosed Reticulum Cell Hyperplasia in Decalcified Rat Bone Marrow Stain Positive for Ionized Calcium Binding Adapter Molecule 1 (Iba1): A Monocytic/Macrophage Cell Marker:

Reticulum cell hyperplasia (RCH) was a term used for many years by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) to describe a certain non-neoplastic bone marrow lesion of rats. Retrospective microscopic evaluation of RCH lesions and immunohistochemistry analyses were performed to reassess and further characterize these lesions. The NTP database was searched to identify femoral bone marrow specimens diagnosed with RCH from 1981 to 2014 (n = 254). The diagnosis last occurred in 2003, after which the term "cellular infiltration" was used. Eighty-three RCH slides, spanning 22 years, representing 34 different chemicals, were selected for microscopic review, and a subset (23) was chosen for ionized calcium binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1) immunohistochemical staining; initial investigations revealed Iba1 worked as a macrophage marker on decalcified tissue. The following diagnoses were made upon reevaluation: 36 were consistent with cellularity increased, macrophage, 22 with histiocytic sarcoma, 8 with increased myeloid cells, 4 with autolysis, and 13 were normal appearance. All 23 RCH lesions stained positive for Iba1. Fifty-eight of 83 bone marrows previously diagnosed with RCH are consistent morphologically and immunohistochemically with cells of histiocytic origin. These results will help with interpretation of historical data and demonstrates that Iba1 can be used in decalcified bone marrow sections.
A DNN-LSTM based Target Tracking Approach using mmWave Radar and Camera Sensor Fusion

A new sensor fusion study for monocular camera and mmWave radar using deep neural network and LSTMs is presented. The proposed study includes a decision framework to produce reliable output when either sensor fails. Experiment results to demonstrate single sensor uncertainty and the proposed method’s advantages are also presented.
Pairing instability on a Luttinger surface: A non-Fermi liquid to superconductor transition and its Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev dual

Superconductivity results from an instability of the Fermi surface---contour of poles of the single-particle propagator---to an infinitesimally small attraction between electrons. Here, we instead discuss the analogous problem on a model Luttinger surface, or contour of zeros of the Green function. At zero temperature $(\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty})$ and a critical interaction strength $({u}_{c\ensuremath{\infty}})$ characterized by the residue of self-energy pole, we find that the pair susceptibility diverges leading to a superconducting instability. We evaluate the pair fluctuation partition function and find that the spectral density in the normal state has an interaction-driven, power-law $\frac{1}{\sqrt{\ensuremath{\omega}}}$ type, van-Hove singularity (vHS), indicating non-Fermi liquid (NFL) physics. Crucially, in the strong coupling limit $(\ensuremath{\beta}u\ensuremath{\gg}1)$, the leading-order fluctuation free-energy terms in the normal state of this NFL-SC transition resembles the equivalent $\left[O(1)\right]$ terms of the Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev (SYK) model. This free-energy contribution takes a simple form $\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\beta}F=\ensuremath{\beta}{u}_{c\ensuremath{\infty}}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\text{ln}\left(\ensuremath{\beta}{u}_{c\ensuremath{\infty}}\right),$ where $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ is a constant equal to $\frac{1}{2}$. Weak impurity scattering $(\ensuremath{\tau}\ensuremath{\gg}{\ensuremath{\beta}}^{\ensuremath{-}1})$ leaves the low-energy spectral density unaffected but leads to an interaction-driven enhancement of superconductivity. Our results shed light on the role played by order-parameter fluctuations in providing the key missing link between Mott physics and strongly coupled toy models exhibiting gravity duals.
An experimental case study on forum-based online teaching to improve student’s engagement and motivation in higher education

With the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), online education has been increasingly adopted globally. However, whether the online teaching approach is effective for students’ learnin...
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors α7 and α9 modifies tobacco smoke risk for multiple sclerosis.

Introduction:Tobacco smoke exposure is an established risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS), yet how it confers risk is not known. Evidence from observational studies suggests nicotine may be a p...
Toxigenic Clostridioides difficile colonization as a risk factor for development of C. difficile infection in solid-organ transplant patients

Background: The association between Clostridioides difficile colonization and C. difficile infection (CDI) is unknown in solid-organ transplant (SOT) patients. We examined C. difficile colonization and healthcare-associated exposures as risk factors for development of CDI in SOT patients. Methods: The retrospective study cohort included all consecutive SOT patients with at least 1 screening test between May 2017 and April 2018. CDI was defined as the presence of diarrhea (without laxatives), a positive C. difficile clinical test, and the use of C. difficile-directed antimicrobial therapy as ordered by managing clinicians. In addition to demographic variables, exposures to antimicrobials, immunosuppressants, and gastric acid suppressants were evaluated from the time of first screening test to the time of CDI, death, or final discharge. Results: Of the 348 SOT patients included in our study, 33 (9.5%) were colonized with toxigenic C. difficile. In total, 11 patients (3.2%) developed CDI. Only C. difficile colonization (odds ratio [OR], 13.52; 95% CI, 3.46–52.83; P = .0002), age (OR, 1.09; CI, 1.02–1.17; P = .0135), and hospital days (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02–1.08; P = .0017) were independently associated with CDI. Conclusions: Although CDI was more frequent in C. difficile colonized SOT patients, the overall incidence of CDI was low in this cohort.
Electrocochleography in Cochlear Implant Users with Residual Acoustic Hearing: A Systematic Review

(1) Objectives: This study reviews the use of electrocochleography (ECoG) as a tool for assessing the response of the peripheral auditory system and monitoring hearing preservation in the growing population of cochlear implant (CI) users with preserved hearing in the implanted ear. (2) Methods: A search was conducted in PubMed and CINAHL databases up to August 2020 to locate articles related to the ECoG measured during or after the cochlear implant (CI) surgery for monitoring purposes. Non-English articles, animal studies, literature reviews and editorials, case reports, and conference papers were excluded. The quality of studies was evaluated using the National Institute of Health (NIH) “Study Quality Assessment Tool for Case Series Studies”. (3) Results: A total 30 articles were included for the systematic review. A total of 21 articles were intraoperative ECoG studies, while seven articles were postoperative studies. Two studies were conducted ECoG both during and after the surgery. Intraoperative ECoG studies focused on monitoring changes in ECoG response amplitudes during and/or after electrode insertion and predicting the scalar location of the electrode array. Postoperative ECoG studies focused on using the ECoG measurements to estimate behavioral audiometric thresholds and monitor pathophysiological changes related to delayed onset hearing loss postimplant. (4) Conclusions: ECoG is feasible to provide real-time feedback intraoperatively and has a potential clinical value to monitor the status of hearing preservation postoperatively in this CI population with residual acoustic hearing.