cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
User (dis)satisfaction and discrepancy in information systems: an integrated model and empirical investigation

The notion of user satisfaction (US) in information systems has received much attention over the past two decades. Despite this attention, there has been little progress toward a stream of research that is consistent and replicable. This lack of progress has been attributed to inadequate conceptual development of the US construct. Inadequate conceptual development has resulted in varied definitions and operationalizations of US, and has contributed to results that are inconsistent. Incorporating research done on satisfaction in the reference disciplines of organizational behavior and consumer behavior, this paper proposes and develops a broader and more comprehensive model of a user's affective response (UAR) to an information system. The UAR model provides a framework for investigating critical dimensions of UAR that previous work may have neglected, and suggests that user dissatisfaction may be as important a construct in information systems as is US. >
Revisiting the Resource Curse: Natural Disasters, the Price of Oil, and Democracy

Fluctuations in the price of oil and the contemporaneous political changes in oil-producing countries have raised an important question about the link between oil rents, political institutions, and civil liberties+ This article presents a sim- ple model of the relationship between resource income and political freedom and, using an instrumental variables approach, estimates the causal effect of shocks to oil revenues on levels of democracy+ Using a new data set, multiple measures of democ- racy, and various specifications, Ifi nd that the effect of oil price shocks is larger than might be expected and on the order of the effects found from changes in gross domes- tic product+ An umber of studies show that ar esource curse exists—that is, they demonstrate that relatively large natural resource endowments exert negative effects on politi- cal institutions+ Both case studies and analyses based on data drawn from large numbers of countries across long periods of time show that individuals are less able to hold their leaders accountable if they live in countries blessed by abundant natural resources than if they reside in less well-endowed nations+ In contrast to conventional wisdom, then, at least some types of wealth undermine rather than accelerate the development of democratic political institutions+ The existing literature, however, suffers from two problems that cast doubt on their conclusions about the resource curse+ First, contributors to it cannot disen- tangle two very different mechanisms: ~1! changes in resource income produce changes in political institutions, and ~2! shifts in governments' policies explain variations in resource revenues+ For example, oil prices rise when political leaders either consolidate their power ~Russia and Venezuela! or pursue more radical pol- icies ~Iran!+ It is also true, however, that rising prices can enable leaders to aban- don moderate policies, postponing, for example, the pursuit of market-oriented
Technology competition and optimal investment timing: a real options perspective

Companies often choose to defer irreversible investments to maintain valuable managerial flexibility in an uncertain world. For some technology-intensive projects, technology uncertainty plays a dominant role in affecting investment timing. This article analyzes the investment timing strategy for a firm that is deciding about whether to adopt one or the other of two incompatible and competing technologies. We develop a continuous-time stochastic model that aids in the determination of optimal timing for managerial adoption within the framework of real options theory. The model captures the elements of the decision-making process in such a way so as to provide managerial guidance in light of expectations associated with future technology competition. The results of this paper suggest that a technology adopter should defer its investment until one technology's probability to win out in the marketplace and achieve critical mass reaches a critical threshold. The optimal timing strategy for adoption that we propose can also be used in markets that are subject to positive network feedback. Although network effects usually tend to make the market equilibrium less stable and shorten the process of technology competition, we show why technology adopters may require more technology uncertainties to be resolved before widespread adoption can occur.
Effect of antipyretic agents on uptake, transport, and release of antimicrobial agents by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) concentrate, transport, and release certain antimicrobial agents as they move in a chemotactic gradient. Antipyretic agents are frequently used in febrile patients receiving antimicrobial agents. Thus, the influence of ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and acetylsalicylic acid on uptake, transport, and release of azithromycin and moxifloxacin was studied. Uptake of the antimicrobial agents by human PMNL and the effect of the antipyretics were quantitated by bioassay of released antimicrobial agent. Transport and release were determined in chemotactic plates overlaid with sentinel bacteria that could detect transported and released antimicrobial agent. None of the antipyretics altered PMNL directed or nondirected movement. Uptake of azithromycin was significantly inhibited by acetylsalicylic acid but not by the other antipyretics. All of the antipyretic agents studied at therapeutic levels inhibited transport and release of both azithromycin and moxifloxacin. Administration of any of these antipyretic agents with antimicrobial agents that are transported and released by PMNL could compromise the efficacy of therapy.
Automated Closed Loop Control of Inspired Oxygen Concentration

Oxygen therapy is extensively used in premature infants and adults with respiratory insufficiency. In the premature infant the goal during manual control of the F(IO(2)) is to maintain adequate oxygenation and to minimize the exposure to hypoxemia, hyperoxemia, and oxygen. However, this is frequently not achieved during routine care, which increases the risks of associated side effects affecting the eye, lungs, and central nervous system. In the adult the primary goal is to avoid hypoxemia, but conventional methods of oxygen supplementation may fall short during periods of increased demand. On the other hand, there are growing concerns related to unnecessarily high F(IO(2)) levels that increase the exposure to hyperoxemia and excessive oxygen use in settings where resources are limited. Systems for automated closed loop control of F(IO(2)) have been developed for use in neonates and adults. This paper will give an overview of the rationale for the development of these systems, present the evidence, and discuss important advantages and limitations.
Differential diagnostic assays for discriminating mycobacteria, especially for nontuberculous mycobacteria: what does the future hold?

Mycobacteria infections are an important medical problem, and many are regarded as emerging and re-emerging diseases. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, remains a leading cause of human morbidity and mortality worldwide, with approximately 8.6 million cases and 1.3 million deaths in 2012. In addition, the incidence of nontuberculous Mycobacterium infection has significantly increased, especially among developed countries. Although phenotypical appearances such as culture characteristics and/ or susceptibility to anti-Mycobacterium drugs are variable between different mycobacterial species, early diagnosis is crucial in terms of patient treatment and clinical outcome. In this manuscript, we describe the development of diagnostic techniques, from the classical/ conventional to the most recent advances, and provide an overview of the future direction of discrimination procedures.
Development of a microscale red blood cell-shaped pectin-oligochitosan hydrogel system using an electrospray-vibration method: preparation and characterization.

PurposeTo develop and characterize a microscale pectin-oligochitosan hydrogel microcapsule system that could be applied in such biological fields as drug delivery, cell immobilization/encapsulation...
THE TREATMENT OF SENILE VAGINITIS WITH LOW DOSES OF SYNTHETIC ESTROGENS.

Summary One-tenth milligram of diethyl stilbestrol daily was shown to be the treatment of choice for senile vaginitis in a clinical survey of 82 postmenopausal women. It is suggested that this dosage should be used when long term therapy with estrogenic preparations is being planned for menopausal or postmenopausal disorders.
Gulf Coast Submarine Banks as Potential Hydrocarbon Traps

ABSTRACT The real possibility of a serious energy shortage in the United States recently has been emphasized by economic and political events affecting the petroleum industry. As a result, many explorationists are pressing for new means and approaches by which to increase domestic reserves. As one example of the latter, interest in subtle traps resulting from facies changes, erosional processes, and paleogeomorphic features, is increasing in the Gulf Coast as the more obvious structural features become exhausted. A group of calcareous banks along the outer edge of the northern Gulf continental shelf represent potential paleogeomorphic traps of a type that may have been common on ancient Gulf shelves since the Oligocene Epoch. Microfaunal and lithologic facies analyses, as demonstrated on and around the existing banks, provide powerful tools by which to recognize analogous features in the subsurface.
Optimal reconstruction of historical water supply to a distribution system: A. Methodology.

The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS), with support from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) conducted an epidemiological study of childhood leukaemia and nervous system cancers that occurred in the period 1979 through 1996 in Dover Township, Ocean County, New Jersey. The epidemiological study explored a wide variety of possible risk factors, including environmental exposures. ATSDR and NJDHSS determined that completed human exposure pathways to groundwater contaminants occurred in the past through private and community water supplies (i.e. the water distribution system serving the area). To investigate this exposure, a model of the water distribution system was developed and calibrated through an extensive field investigation. The components of this water distribution system, such as number of pipes, number of tanks, and number of supply wells in the network, changed significantly over a 35-year period (1962–1996), the time frame established for the epidemiological study. Data on the historical management of this system was limited. Thus, it was necessary to investigate alternative ways to reconstruct the operation of the system and test the sensitivity of the system to various alternative operations. Manual reconstruction of the historical water supply to the system in order to provide this sensitivity analysis was time-consuming and labour intensive, given the complexity of the system and the time constraints imposed on the study. To address these issues, the problem was formulated as an optimization problem, where it was assumed that the water distribution system was operated in an optimum manner at all times to satisfy the constraints in the system. The solution to the optimization problem provided the historical water supply strategy in a consistent manner for each month of the study period. The non-uniqueness of the selected historical water supply strategy was addressed by the formulation of a second model, which was based on the first solution. Numerous other sensitivity analyses were also conducted using these two models. Both models are solved using a two-stage progressive optimality algorithm along with genetic algorithms (GAs) and the EPANET2 water distribution network solver. This process reduced the required solution time and generated a historically consistent water supply strategy for the water distribution system.
Coexisting with coyotes (Canis latrans) in an urban environment

The global spread of urban development and concomitant reduction in wilderness areas can both pressure and entice wild animals to adapt to the urban environment. As wildlife moves into metropolitan areas, however, they come into contact with residents who have become increasingly disconnected from natural environments and have little to no experience in dealing with wild animals. While many large carnivores actively avoid urban areas, North America’s coyote (Canis latrans) has proved remarkably adept at utilizing the highly altered habitat of the modern city. Yet while the coyote’s behavioural adaptations to urban areas have been relatively well researched, fewer studies have focused on human-coyote interactions in cities. Given that human attitudes, fears, knowledge and resulting behaviours often underpin human-wildlife conflicts, the following study investigates and compares the human aspects of coyote conflict in two cities with large populations of both people and coyotes: Chicago and Los Angeles. Data were collected via email surveys sent to residents of Cook and Los Angeles Counties. The survey instrument included questions on residents’ opinions, fears, knowledge, personal experiences with urban coyotes and behaviours affecting them. The general goal of the study was to investigate the potential for human-coyote coexistence in urban environments. The following research revealed great variation in attitudes towards coyotes, with animal lovers being as much a part of the problem as those with a paralyzing fear of wildlife. Consequently, finding acceptable solutions may pose a significant challenge to urban wildlife managers and reconciliation ecologists.
Why the U.S. Government Failed to Anticipate the Rwandan Genocide of 1994: Lessons for Early Warning and Prevention

During the months leading up to the Rwandan genocide of 1994, cognitive biases obstructed the capacity of U.S. government analysts and policymakers to anticipate mass violence against the country’s Tutsi minority. Drawing on recently declassified U.S. government documents and on interviews with key current and former officials, this essay shows that most U.S. government reporting on Rwanda before April 1994 utilized a faulty cognitive frame that failed to differentiate between threats of civil war and genocide. Because U.S. officials framed the crisis in Rwanda as a potential civil war, they underestimated the virulence of the threat to Tutsi civilians and discounted the risk of catastrophic violence. The “civil war frame” also justified rigid U.S. policy guidance that may have exacerbated ethnic and political conflicts in Rwanda on the eve of the genocide. The phenomenon of faulty cognitive framing remains a challenge for contemporary atrocity prevention and response efforts in countries including Libya, South Sudan, and Syria.
Relation of Quality of Animal Protein Concentrate in the Diet to Growth of Poults

Abstract Several samples of animal protein concentrates, which had been tested biologically with the chick and chemically in the determination of protein quality index (Almquist et al., 1935; Almquist, 1941), were used in a poult ration devised for protein quality testing. The purpose of this work was to ascertain whether the poult would respond to protein concentrate quality variation in a manner similar to that of the chick. Poults were reared for two weeks on a practical diet, then weighed and distributed into groups of 10 each of approximately the same average weight and distribution of weights (as nearly as possible). They were then given the following basal diet: Wheat bran, 10.0 parts by weight; ground wheat, 20.0; ground yellow corn, 20.0; ground barley, 20.0; alfalfa meal 7.5; brewers’ yeast, 5.0; crude soybean oil, 3.5; salt, 1.0; ground limestone, 1.5; steamed bonemeal 1.0; fish oil (400-D), 0.5; manganese sulfate, 0.03. A . . .
The Development and Function of Plant Fermentation

This article describes the meaning and history of plant fermentation,as well as different types of fermentation technology and products. A comprehensive illustration on the efficacy of plant fermentation broth and the research status at home and abroad are given in details. Finally,the prospects and problems for plant fermentation in domestic market are taken into consideration.
A new computerized, multidisciplined, multihospital storage and retrieval system for patient discharge summaries.

We have written and successfully tested, on a pilot off-line basis, a series of computer programs for the accurate creation, storage, and rapid retrieval of gynecologic patient discharge summaries. The system has produced periodic reports for the evaluation of the experience of our department. The system also has the capacity for instantaneous on-line retrieval of any specific person's record or records as needed. The records are printed out in English and are keyed in by use of the standard social security number. The system is able to search, tabulate, and select all patient records from the entire file that meet any specific set of criteria. The user also receives a detailed analysis of those records selected. This application is available on both an on-line basis for conference purposes and an off-line basis for research purposes. We believe that our system is readily adaptable for the evaluation of the experience of any specific clinical department. The solution to the problem of incomplete or inaccurate discharge summaries and better and faster utilization of our medical information, as well as the elimination of dictation of charts by the physician, is the logical outcome of total implementation of this sytsem. The need for such a solution is especially demonstrated by the provision of new health legislation such as the HR-1 amendments to the Social Security Act.
Advances in connection design in the united states

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of notable advancements in connection design practice in the United States. The common approach to connection analysis and design in the United States is to idealize the moment-rotation characteristics of connections as either simple or fixed. For example, a double-angle simple-shear connection is assumed to accommodate the simple-beam rotation while transferring shear, but no moment. A flange-plated moment connection would be assumed to fix the end of the beam, transferring shear and moment, while allowing no relative rotation of the beam end with respect to its support. The assumptions that a connection was either simple or fixed, as well as the construction of connections to approximate that assumption, were both necessary for two main reasons. First, the tasks of analysis and design were greatly simplified and could be accomplished with the tools available to the designer of yesterday: pencil, paper, and slide rule. Second, the actual non-linear moment-rotation behavior of the connection fell outside the assumptions of the elastic allowable stress design approach.
Using alphametics in introductory programming classes

An alphametic is an arithmetic problem where the digits are replaced by letters. Furthermore, after the digits are replaced, the problem should contain a message. For example, the following problem appeared in volume 32(2) of Journal of Recreational Mathematics STEEL + BELTED = RADIALS and has the solution 87336 + 936732 = 1024068. The problem is that you are given the alphametic in textual form and you are to determine the digits. This type of problem lends itself to solution using a computer program that contains a series of properly nested loops and ifs. I have used alphametics as a basic problem in my introductory programming classes many times and have found them to be an excellent programming assignment. The purpose of this talk is to demonstrate the fundamental approach to a computer solution of this class of problem.
The effects of tolerance of negativity on consumers’ responses to comparative attack advertising

AbstractThis paper focuses on ‘tolerance of negativity’ (TON) as a means of understanding and predicting consumers’ responses to negative marketing communications. The results of three empirical studies suggest that consumers who are low (as opposed to high) in TON (when measured and/or primed) find negatively framed comparative ads to be less fair, less useful, and have less favorable attitudes toward the ad and sponsor brand. Importantly, cognitive elaboration is shown to moderate these effects. Specifically, one’s TON is found to be more impactful when individuals are engaged with an ad (i.e. when cognitive elaboration is greater) as opposed to when cognitive elaboration is lower. Interestingly, TON’s moderating influence was not observed in any of the studies when attitudes toward the compared-to brand were the dependent variable.
Review of Jacob Levy's Rationalism, Pluralism, and Freedom

In this book, Jacob Levy rewrites both the history and the normative underpinnings of liberalism to accommodate a more complex account of freedom than the traditional view admits.
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in a Young Adult Presenting as Hepatitis and Acute Kidney Injury

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adults is a relatively rare malignancy. The typical presentation includes signs and symptoms associated with bone marrow failure, including fevers, infections,...
Nestes Modes, ’Qua’ and the Incarnation

A nested mode ontology allows one to make sense of apparently contradictory Christological claims such as that Christ knows everything and there are some things Christ does not know.
Relaxed tolerance adiabatic silicon coupler for high I/O port-density optical interconnects (Conference Presentation)

Widespread deployment of silicon photonics will benefit strongly from improved high-port-density interconnect solutions between chips, interposers, and other waveguide fabrics. We present an adiabatic silicon waveguide to polymer waveguide coupler design incorporating strong vertical asymmetries offering high efficiency, small footprint, and improved tolerance to lateral misalignment. The design incorporates a standard 450nm-wide silicon waveguide tapered down to 50nm over a distance of 200μm with a 1.6μm-thick polymer waveguide having a 4μm-wide core atop the taper. The coupler exhibits <0.1dB loss for both TE and TM modes based on 3-dimensional finite element modeling. Moreover, the modeled device exhibits less than 0.1dB excess loss with lateral misalignment of +/–2μm between polymer and silicon waveguide for TE mode, and 0.2dB excess loss with +/–1.6μm offset for the TM mode, and 1dB excess loss for both TE and TM modes with +/–2.7μm misalignment. This taper design should enable reduction in manufacturing costs due to a reduced on-chip footprint and the potential for lower-precision, higher-throughput assembly tools. The authors would like to acknowledge the support of AIM Photonics. This material is based on research sponsored by Air Force Research Laboratory under agreement number FA8650-15-2-5220. The U.S. Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for Governmental purposes notwithstanding any copyright notation thereon. The views and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies or endorsements, either expressed or implied, of Air Force Research Laboratory or the U.S. Government.
Should All Farms be Large

F ARMING has long been considered a family-sized operation, whereas urban businesses have been thought of as large scale operations. It may surprise some that we now have 3.8 million urban businesses, or one business for about every 38 persons in this country. By the way of comparison, we have one farm, as classified in the Census, for about every 25 persons. Nearly one-half the urban businesses are family affairs, having no paid employees, and probably another 30 percent employ not over three or four paid workers. In agriculture at least three-fourths of the farms can, be classified as family farms, and so there is less difference in the usual supply of most farms and urban businesses than commonly supposed. Much can be read about the increase in the average acreage of farms and the predicted disappearance of the family farm. What are the facts in the case? Again referring to Census data, we find that the average size of farms in the three Lake States, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, increased 10 acres from 1940 to 1945, now being nearly 140 acres. Incidentally the number of hired workers at the beginning of 1945 was less than half the number reported ten years earlier, while the number of family workers decreased less than 10 percent. Apparently the family farm is not disappearing in these states. But to get back to the change in size of farms, let's see what sizes are increasing and decreasing in number. From 1940 to 1945 the total number of farms in the Lake States decreased 5 percent. Farms under 10 acres in size decreased 6 percent in number, those from 10 to 49 acres, 14 percent and those from 50 to 99 acres, 15 percent, while the number of farms in the 100 to 179 acre size decreased 4 percent in the three states. Decreases were shown in all of these sizes in all three states, except in those under 10 acres in Minnesota, where there was a small increase. On the other hand, the number of farms 180 to 259 acres in size increased 10 percent, while those of 260 to 379 acres increased 16 percent, those of 380 to 499 acres 15 percent, and the number 500 acres and over, increased from
A clinician’s guide to ADHD treatment options

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition of children and adolescents that often persists into adulthood. Primary care physicians are commonly the first to diagnosis ADHD and initiate a treatment plan with the patient. Guidelines recommend psychostimulant treatment as a first-line therapy in the management plan because it has a substantial impact on alleviating the core symptoms of ADHD. The recent development of a variety of methylphenidate and amphetamine formulations provides many options to meet individual patient lifestyle needs. Liquid, chewable, sprinkled capsule, wearable patch, and orally disintegrating tablet formulations are currently available for patients who may be noncompliant with or have difficulty swallowing traditional pills. This review provides a resource for physicians to identify the stimulant delivery formulation that best suits the patient. Formulations in development are also discussed.
Matching time and spatial scales of rapid solidification: dynamic TEM experiments coupled to CALPHAD-informed phase-field simulations

A combination of dynamic transmission electron microscopy (DTEM) experiments and CALPHAD-informed phase-field simulations was used to study rapid solidification in Cu–Ni thin-film alloys. Experiments—conducted in the DTEM—consisted of in situ laser melting and determination of the solidification kinetics by monitoring the solid–liquid interface and the overall microstructure evolution (time-resolved measurements) during the solidification process. Modelling of the Cu–Ni alloy microstructure evolution was based on a phase-field model that included realistic Gibbs energies and diffusion coefficients from the CALPHAD framework (thermodynamic and mobility databases). DTEM and post mortem experiments highlighted the formation of microsegregation-free columnar grains with interface velocities varying from ~0.1 to ~0.6 m s−1. After an 'incubation' time, the velocity of the planar solid–liquid interface accelerated until solidification was complete. In addition, a decrease of the temperature gradient induced a decrease in the interface velocity. The modelling strategy permitted the simulation (in 1D and 2D) of the solidification process from the initially diffusion-controlled to the nearly partitionless regimes. Finally, results of DTEM experiments and phase-field simulations (grain morphology, solute distribution, and solid–liquid interface velocity) were consistent at similar time (μs) and spatial scales (μm).
Discrete stochastic analogs of Erlang epidemic models

Erlang differential equation models of epidemic processes provide more realistic disease-class transition dynamics from susceptible (S) to exposed (E) to infectious (I) and removed (R) categories than the ubiquitous SEIR model. The latter is itself is at one end of the spectrum of Erlang SE[Formula: see text]I[Formula: see text]R models with [Formula: see text] concatenated E compartments and [Formula: see text] concatenated I compartments. Discrete-time models, however, are computationally much simpler to simulate and fit to epidemic outbreak data than continuous-time differential equations, and are also much more readily extended to include demographic and other types of stochasticity. Here we formulate discrete-time deterministic analogs of the Erlang models, and their stochastic extension, based on a time-to-go distributional principle. Depending on which distributions are used (e.g. discretized Erlang, Gamma, Beta, or Uniform distributions), we demonstrate that our formulation represents both a discretization of Erlang epidemic models and generalizations thereof. We consider the challenges of fitting SE[Formula: see text]I[Formula: see text]R models and our discrete-time analog to data (the recent outbreak of Ebola in Liberia). We demonstrate that the latter performs much better than the former; although confining fits to strict SEIR formulations reduces the numerical challenges, but sacrifices best-fit likelihood scores by at least 7%.
Garbo and Kuchela at the Palace Talkies in Malgudi: Women and Modernity in R.K. Narayan's The Dark Room

In this article I present a reading of an anomalous and relatively critically marginalized novel in the oeuvre of R.K. Narayan: The Dark Room (1938). I locate the novel and its early reception in t...
"Zweckoptimismus" and the Paris process will not save the world from climate catastrophe.

Politicians, government officials, business representatives, and nongovernmental climate activists all in various ways emphasize what they see as progress being made in the aftermath of the Paris Agreement, even if they continue to warn of the dire consequences of business as usual. Indeed, there is no lack of encouraging private and public sector initiatives on climate change. Some macro trends seem to be moving in the right direction, as well. But, closer scrutiny shows that these positive trends are still far from adding up to the necessary fundamental shift in the global energy economy. Furthermore, the public may greatly overestimate the advancement of renewable solar and wind energy technology, which contributes to a false sense of progress and lessens political urgency. Without determined and reinvigorated political leadership from the European Union (EU), there is little hope that necessary emission reduction goals to stay below 2 °C above preindustrial levels can be met. The EU has driven international climate policy from the beginning of climate negotiations, and there is unfortunately no other source of leadership in sight. It will require difficult political decisions to be taken sooner rather than later to force a much quicker domestic energy transition and to raise financing to help developing countries with their own energy transition and adaptation to a rapidly warming world. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2018;14:198-201. © 2018 SETAC.
Atmospheric Boundary Layer and Its Parameterization

Mean flow and turbulence structure of atmospheric boundary layers over homogeneous surfaces is discussed. The basic concepts of static and dynamic stability, together with the relevant stability criteria and parameters are described. Fundamentals of turbulence are introduced with simpler gradient transport and similarity theories. Finally, methods of estimating or parameterizing surface fluxes of momentum and heat, mixing height, wind distribution and turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer for applications to atmospheric circulation and dispersion modeling are discussed. These are largely based on similarity theory relations with input from field experiments and observations.
Modern doctrinal and conceptual basis of public management and civil service modernisation in Ukraine: weberian bureaucracy, new public management, electronic governance

У пропонованій статті охарактеризовано сучасний стан та основні тенденції модернізації публічного управління та державної служби в Україні. Узагальнено наявні тематичні дослідження, присвячені різним аспектам реформування публічної служби в державах-членах ЄС, та виявлено спільне й особливе в тенденціях їх розвитку. На основі здобутих результатів описано сучасну специфіку розвитку публічного управління та державної служби в Україні у їх співвідношенні з європейськими концептами Нового Публічного Управління, Неовеберівської Держави та моделі електронного врядування, окреслено перспективи подальших досліджень у визначеному напрямку.У пропонованій статті охарактеризовано сучасний стан та основні тенденції модернізації публічного управління та державної служби в Україні. Узагальнено наявні тематичні дослідження, присвячені різним аспектам реформування публічної служби в державах-членах ЄС, та виявлено спільне й особливе в тенденціях їх розвитку. На основі здобутих результатів описано сучасну специфіку розвитку публічного управління та державної служби в Україні у їх співвідношенні з європейськими концептами Нового Публічного Управління, Неовеберівської Держави та моделі електронного врядування, окреслено перспективи подальших досліджень у визначеному напрямку. Зокрема, доведено, що в державах-членах ЄС зберігатиметься наявна тенденція до конвергенції публічної служби із громадянським суспільством як один з основних трендів еволюції публічного управління. Подальше зближення із громадянським суспільством відбуватиметься в різних державах у неоднакових формах та з різним концептуальним фундаментом: чи то відповідно до ідей НПУ, чи, навпаки, у контексті повернення до ідеалів сильної національної держави й концепції оновленої раціональної бюрократії («неовеберівська держава»). Така складна доктринально-концептуальна основа має бути врахована при реформуванні публічного управління в Україні.
Child poverty across immigrant generations in the United States, 1993–2016: Evidence using the official and supplemental poverty measures

Background: Recent increases in ethno-racial diversity in the United States are paralleled by growing representation of first- and second-generation immigrants, especially among children. Socioeconomic inequalities along the lines of immigrant generation, race, and ethnicity suggest such demographic changes may result in greater disparities among recent, more-diverse cohorts of children. Objective: Describe poverty rates among US children across five immigrant generation groups, using the US government’s official poverty measure (OPM) and a supplemental poverty measure (SPM), which accounts for government transfers and costs of living. Methods: Using data from the Current Population Survey and historical SPM estimates from 1993–2016, we describe trends in child poverty, stratified by immigrant generation. We compare estimates of inter-generational differences and temporal changes based on the OPM and SPM, and we conduct stratified analyses for Hispanic and Asian children. Results: We find persistent differences in poverty rates between immigrant generations. First-generation non-citizens and second-generation children with two foreign-born parents have consistently higher poverty rates than other generations, between which there are minimal disparities. Differences between OPM- and SPM-based estimates suggest public supports and costs of living have differential welfare effects across groups. Contribution: We provide a historical record of child poverty differentials across immigrant generations, which have been understudied. Results demonstrate heterogeneity in the economic status of first- and second-generation children, which would be masked using other immigrant-generation typologies. Differences in OPM- and SPM-based measures raise questions about inter-generational disparities in public supports and costs of living, and stratified results highlight the intersection of race, ethnicity, and nativity as axes of inequality.
Solving the calcium gluconate shortage in real-time: Mistakes made and lessons learned.

Purpose During a national shortage of calcium gluconate, we switched to calcium chloride for routine supplementation for peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collections. Subsequently, we analyzed the postprocedure ionized calcium level, as we aimed for an equivalent result compared to before the shortage. Methods Pharmacy representatives helped us to find an "equivalent" substitute for calcium gluconate at 46.5 mEq in 500 mL normal saline, infused at 100 mL/hour. After instituting a presumably comparable protocol using calcium chloride (40.8 mEq in 250 mL normal saline at a rate of 100 mL/hour), we reviewed ionized calcium results post-PBSC procedures to compare with those obtained with calcium gluconate. Having noticed a difference in the mean values, we adjusted the rate of calcium chloride to reach our desired outcome. Results Twenty-seven procedures were analyzed on 15 unique patients. We used the Spectra OPTIA with a whole blood: anticoagulant ratio of 13:1. Ionized calcium levels post-PBSC collection with the first calcium chloride protocol were significantly higher (P = 0.003) in nine patients treated. Subsequently, we decreased the calcium chloride infusion rate to 75 mL/hour and achieved similar mean levels to calcium gluconate (P = 0.382). Conclusion Changes in replacement fluids for apheresis procedures can be complex, particularly when dealing with electrolytes that could be clinically significant at critically high or low levels. Once we recognized the need to take into account the amount of elemental calcium infused, we achieved the desired postprocedure ionized calcium results. This study can serve as a lesson for future shortages of infusions used during apheresis procedures.
Are Payers Ready, Willing, and Able to Provide Access to New Durable Gene Therapies?

Abstract Objective To explore payer feedback regarding awareness of new gene therapies, sustainability of current financing mechanisms, unique challenges by payer segment, and need and preference for new financial models. Study Design Qualitative interview with standardized interview guide. Methods Sixty-minute telephone interviews were conducted with financial decision makers from 15 US payers between August and September 2017. Results One-third of payers interviewed (n = 5) were newly aware and learning about new gene therapies, 40% (n = 6) described watchful waiting, whereas 26.7% (n = 4) were engaged in active management. New payment models—specifically, performance-based agreements and risk-pooling—were supported by 47% (n = 7) of payers, whereas the current payment model was supported by 53% (n = 8). Major challenges included uncertainty related to utilization, cost, and duration of cure. Payers cited regulation, plan turnover, and ability to track long-term outcomes as barriers to implementation of new models. Conclusions Access to new gene therapies may be impacted by payer ability to absorb the cost of coverage. Variation exists in awareness of new gene therapies and level of incorporation of new costs into future plan coverage. The sustainability of current financing mechanisms varies by payer segment, profitability, and size; smaller plans and Medicaid are likely to be impacted first. Government reinsurance, commercial reinsurance, and stop-loss insurance backstop current reimbursement models, dampening the need for urgent action. The tipping point for action may be severe premium inflation in stop loss and reinsurance. Payers are open to innovative financing models that improve financial predictability and reward clinical performance.
Design Fractals: A Graphical Method for Evaluating Binary Covering Arrays

Test engineers are often faced with the challenge of selecting test cases that maximize the chance of discovering faults while working within a limited budget. Combinatorial testing is an effective test case selection strategy to address this challenge. The basic idea is to select test cases that ensure that all possible combinations of settings from two (or more) inputs are accounted for, regardless of which subset of inputs are selected. This is accomplished by using a covering array as the test case selection mechanism. However, for any given testing scenario, there are usually several alternative covering arrays that may satisfy budgetary and coverage requirements. Unfortunately, it is often unclear how to choose from these alternatives. Practitioners often want a way to explore how the input space is being covered to decide which alternative is best suited for the testing scenario. In this paper we propose a graphical method that may be used to evaluate binary covering arrays. The method allows practitioners to visualize input space coverage for inputs of interest. We illustrate the method with several examples.
Platelet and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios predict survival in patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases.

Abstract Background The prognostic significance of the platelet (PLR) and neutrophil (NLR) to lymphocyte ratios for patients with resectable colorectal cancer liver metastases (CLM) was evaluated. Methods Clinicopathologic data from patients who underwent hepatectomy for CLM at two tertiary care hospitals between 1995 and 2017 were collected. Blood counts were evaluated for prognostic significance. Results 151 patients met inclusion criteria. The median age was 58 years, 44% were female, and 58% had synchronous metastases. Median number of liver metastases was 2, and 59% of patients underwent lobectomy or extended lobectomy. On multivariable analysis, NLR ≥5 (HR 2.46 [1.08–5.60 CI], p = 0.032), PLR ≥ 220 (HR 2.10 [1.04–4.23 CI], p = 0.037), and greater than 2 liver metastases (HR 2.41 [1.06–5.45 CI], p = 0.035) were associated with reduced overall survival. Conclusions PLR ≥ 220 and NLR ≥ 5 may have utility as preoperative prognostic markers for overall survival in patients with resectable CLM.
Adjuvant lidocaine to a propofol-ketamine-based sedation regimen for bone marrow aspirates and biopsy in the pediatric population

Pediatric patients with hematological malignancies repeatedly undergo painful bone marrow aspirates and biopsies (BMABs) in routine care. No standard sedation regimen has been established. This study evaluated the addition of injected local lidocaine to a propofol-ketamine sedation for BMAB and its effects on propofol dosing, safety, and efficacy. A retrospective analysis of children undergoing BMAB with propofol-ketamine with (PK+L) and without (PK-only) the injection of local lidocaine. Patients were matched through propensity probability scores. To measure efficacy, dosing, procedure length, and recovery time were evaluated. To assess safety, adverse and serious events were recorded. As an indirect measurement of analgesia, changes in heart rate and blood pressure were analyzed. Of the 420 encounters included, 188 matched pairs (376 patients) were analyzed. Patient demographics were comparable. The median dose of propofol was not significantly different between both groups. The incidence of adverse events was similar. There were no significant differences in the changes in heart rate and blood pressure with sedation between groups.Conclusion: This study suggests that the addition of local lidocaine injection to a propofol-ketamine sedation for BMAB pediatric patients does not affect the propofol dose, safety, or efficacy properties of the regimen. What is Known: •Although propofol is commonly used, there is no standard sedation regimen for pediatric patients undergoing bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. •Local lidocaine is used in analgesia in the adults undergoing the same procedure. What is New: •Local lidocaine adjuvant to propofol-ketamine sedation does not affect propofol dosing, the safety of efficacy properties of the regimen in the pediatric population.
Preventive insecticide use affects arthropod decomposers and decomposition in field crops

Abstract Insecticides use in field crops has grown increasingly prophylactic, which poses a potentially unnecessary risk to arthropod decomposers. These decomposers — including millipedes (Diplopoda), soil mites (Acari, mostly Oribatida), and Collembola — act as alternative prey for generalist predators, facilitate crop-residue breakdown, and can influence nutrient cycling. However, the abundance and activity of arthropod decomposers may be reduced by extensive prophylactic pesticide use. We conducted a three-year field experiment in no-till corn and soybean fields to assess how neonicotinoid seed coatings or broadcast applications of a pyrethroid insecticide affect arthropod decomposers and litter decomposition. Both insecticides reduced densities of arthropod decomposers and reduced decomposition of plant litter by over 10%. Neonicotinoid seed coatings reduced collembolan densities by 34% and millipede densities by 52%, while the pyrethroid significantly reduced oribatid mite densities by 24% and millipede densities by 82%. Lower mite and millipede densities correlated with slower litter loss, and decomposition was slower under neonicotinoid seed coatings and broadcast pyrethroid applications. These results indicate that perennial, widespread use of prophylactic insecticides is likely to have concerning negative effects on the availability of alternative prey, plant residue breakdown, and nutrient cycling in field crops.
(I Think) I Know Why You Did That: The Risky Business of Inferring Intentions

Despite the important role that assumptions about intentions play in our judgments of others' actions and how we respond to these actions, most of us haven't thought much about the accuracy of the inferences we make, the ways our decisions about what he meant to do or why she did that might be unintentionally biased, or the potential negative effects that result when inferences about intentions affect how we judge a behavior. Nor have we thought about steps we might take to question or correct our initial inferences, or whether we should aim to set aside inferences altogether in judging and determining the consequences of a behavior. The goal of this note is to help you think about exactly these things. Excerpt UVA-OB-1348 Jan. 27, 2021 (I Think) I Know Why You Did That: The Risky Business of Inferring Intentions We care about what happens in other people's minds. Almost from the moment we are born, we are attempting to infer the goals of and attribute intentionality to others. Some even suggest that the development of civilization was only possible because of this ability to infer correctly at least some of the time why so-and-so did that. The pervasiveness of such attributions of intent (both in our evolutionary history and our own lives) has created a strong tendency for us to trust the judgments we make stemming from such inferences. And indeed, for some goals such as preserving close relationships or fostering smooth coordination in ongoing small groups giving others the benefit of the doubt might still be adaptive some of the time. However, for optimizing on many other important values and goals, relying on our immediate judgments of others' intentions can be quite problematic. Research is now replete with examples of the systematic misjudgments and biases that our imperfect brains make based on inferences about others. These cognitive glitches lead to suboptimal decisions about praise and blame, consequences, and other judgments where fairness and/or effectiveness are important. They also often leave us with a false sense of confidence that our judgments are correct and thus a reduced likelihood of noticing and correcting our errors. . . .