cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Introduction to the featured section: Psychological and behavioral studies in cancer prevention and control.

Cancer is a major health problem for Americans. There has been a steady rise in the cancer mortality rate in the United States in the last half-century. For example, whereas the cancer death rate was 157 per 100,000 population in 1950, it was 174 per 100,000 population in 1990 (American Cancer Society, 1996). The major cause of this increase has been lung cancer: A 452% increase in the lung cancer death rate for women and a 104% increase in the lung cancer death rate for men have occurred in the last 30 years. Death rates for other major cancers have leveled off (e.g., cancers of the colon, ovary, and pancreas) or declined (e.g., cancers of the rectum and cervix). Notable exceptions are the common breast and prostate cancers, the death rates for which have increased 7% and 24%, respectively, in the last 30 years. Cancer is the number one killer of women as young as 35, and this circumstance extends to those in their mid-70s. During these same prime ages, cancer is the number two killer of men. Thus, the following four articles examine the psychological and behavioral aspects of cancer both as a risk and as a reality. Editor's Note. During the past 2 years, Health Psychology has occasionally published Special Sections on timely topics in the field. Articles for these Special Sections are obtained either from an open announcement and solicitation of submissions in a given area or, on rare occasion, from invited articles. In both cases, these solicitations are followed by rigorous peer review of the articles. However, with this issue, we introduce a Featured Section consisting of four articles (two regular articles and two brief reports) on behavioral issues in cancer prevention and control that were spontaneously submitted to the journal by each group of authors and that made their way through the usual Health Psychology review process, sheperded by one or more of our associate editors. After these articles were accepted and placed in the publication queue, they presented a unique opportunity for creating a coherent collection (Featured Section) of articles in this increasingly popular and timely area. In addition, Barbara Andersen agreed to provide an overview. In the future, when a critical mass of articles on a related and timely topic are accepted by the journal, the editors of Health Psychology will take the opportunity to solicit an introduction and to group them together as a Featured Section.--DSK.
The Effect of Folic Acid on Embryonic Development of the Domestic Fowl

Abstract DURING the course of experiments designed to determine the folic acid requirement of laying and breeding hens (Cravens and Halpin, 1949; and Sunde et al., 1950b), certain embryonic deformities were observed. Further it was observed that a high proportion of the embryos from deficient hens died during the latter stages of the developmental period. We wish to describe herein these symptoms as well as to present data showing the effect on hatchability of injecting folic acid into the egg in varying quantities and at different times of incubation. Data showing the relation between the type of carbohydrate in the diet and the incidence of abnormal embryos and the time required to deplete the breeding hen of folic acid will also be presented. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS The management of the hens has been described by Cravens and Halpin (1949). Four to twelve Single Comb White Leghorn pullets were placed on each ration. . . .
Early technology assessment of new medical devices.

Objectives: In the United States, medical devices represent an eighty-billion dollar a year market. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration rejects a significant number of applications of devices that reach the investigational stage. The prospects of improving patient condition, as well as firms' profits, are thus substantial, but fraught with uncertainties at the time when investments and design decisions are made. This study presents a quantitative model focused on the risk aspects of early technology assessment, designed to support the decisions of medical device firms in the investment and development stages.Methods: The model is based on the engineering risk analysis method involving systems analysis and probability. It assumes use of all evidence available (both direct and indirect) and integrates the information through a linear formula of aggregation of probability distributions. The model is illustrated by a schematic version of the case of the AtrialShaper, a device for the reduction of stroke risk that is currently in the preprototype stage.Results: The results of the modeling provide a more complete description of the evidence base available to support early-stage decisions, thus allowing comparison of alternative designs and management alternatives.Conclusions: The model presented here provides early-stage decision-support to industry, but also benefits regulators and payers in their later assessment of new devices and associated procedures.
A comparison of RNA-Seq and high-density exon array for detecting differential gene expression between closely related species

RNA-Seq has emerged as a revolutionary technology for transcriptome analysis. In this article, we report a systematic comparison of RNA-Seq and high-density exon array for detecting differential gene expression between closely related species. On a panel of human/chimpanzee/rhesus cerebellum RNA samples previously examined by the high-density human exon junction array (HJAY) and real-time qPCR, we generated 48.68 million RNA-Seq reads. Our results indicate that RNA-Seq has significantly improved gene coverage and increased sensitivity for differentially expressed genes compared with the high-density HJAY array. Meanwhile, we observed a systematic increase in the RNA-Seq error rate for lowly expressed genes. Specifically, between-species DEGs detected by array/qPCR but missed by RNA-Seq were characterized by relatively low expression levels, as indicated by lower RNA-Seq read counts, lower HJAY array expression indices and higher qPCR raw cycle threshold values. Furthermore, this issue was not unique to between-species comparisons of gene expression. In the RNA-Seq analysis of MicroArray Quality Control human reference RNA samples with extensive qPCR data, we also observed an increase in both the false-negative rate and the false-positive rate for lowly expressed genes. These findings have important implications for the design and data interpretation of RNA-Seq studies on gene expression differences between and within species.
Effect of control parameters on dynamic load balancing

This paper proposes a general matrix iterative model to represent a range of dynamic load balancing algorithms. The model is parameterized to represent the random and redistribution algorithms. A parallel N-body simulation example is used to validate the model. The model and associated performance measures are used to evaluate various load balancing algorithms and derive optimal algorithms and algorithm parameters for a given application and multiprocessor system. >
Common Neural Mechanisms for Response Selection and Perceptual Processing

Behavioral evidence supports a dissociation between response selection (RS; stimulus-to-response [S-R] mapping) and perceptual discrimination (PD): The former may be subject to a central processing bottleneck, whereas the latter is not (Pashler, 1994). We previously (Jiang & Kanwisher, 2003) identified a set of frontal and parietal regions involved in RS as those that produce a stronger signal when subjects follow a difficult S-R mapping rule than an easy mapping rule. Here, we test whether any of these regions are selectively activated by RS and not perceptual processing, as predicted by the central bottleneck view. In Experiment 1, subjects indicated which of four parallel lines was unique in length; PD was indexed by a higher BOLD response when the discrimination was difficult versus easy. Stimuli and responses were closely matched across conditions. We found that all regions-of-interest (ROIs) engaged by RS were also engaged by perceptual processing, arguing against the existence of mechanisms exclusively involved in RS. In Experiments 2 and 3, we asked what processes might go on in these ROIs, such that they could be recruited by both RS and perceptual processing. Our data argue against an account of this common activation in terms of spatial processing or general task difficulty. Thus, PD may recruit the same central processes that are engaged by RS.
Analysis of flow and heat transfer inside oscillatory squeezed thin films subject to a varying clearance

Abstract The flow and heat transfer inside a non-isothermal and incompressible thin film having its upper plate slightly inclined from the horizontal and undergoing an oscillatory squeezing motion is investigated in this work. Two models are analyzed: low and large Reynolds number flow models. The corresponding governing equations for each model are properly non-dimensionalized and solved numerically. The main controlling parameters for the dynamic and thermal behavior of the inclined thin film are found to be the amplitude of the upper plate motion, squeezing Reynolds number, squeezing number, thermal squeezing parameter and the dimensionless slope of the upper plate. It is found that fluctuations in the axial and normal velocities are greater for convergent thin films than for divergent thin films. Furthermore, Nusselt numbers and their amplitudes are found to decrease with an increase in the dimensionless slope of the upper plate. Finally correlations are obtained for Nusselt numbers and their corresponding amplitudes for two different thermal conditions: constant wall temperature and uniform wall heat flux.
Is juvenile dermatomyositis a different disease in children up to three years of age at onset than in children above three years at onset? A retrospective review of 23 years of a single center’s experience

Background We tested the hypothesis that the course and outcome of juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) in children seen at one center with the JDM disease onset at or below three years of age is different from that in the children with disease onset at greater than three years of age.
The Development of Extremely Preterm Infants Born to Women Who Had Genitourinary Infections During Pregnancy

Gestational genitourinary infections, which have been associated with neurodevelopmental impairments among infants born near term, have not been studied among very preterm infants. The mothers of 989 infants born before 28 weeks of gestation were interviewed about urine, bladder, or kidney infections (UTIs) and cervical or vaginal infections (CVIs) during pregnancy, as well as other exposures and characteristics, and their charts were reviewed for the Extremely Low Gestational Age Newborns (ELGAN) Study (2002-2004). At 2 years of age, these infants underwent a neurodevelopmental assessment. Generalized estimating equation logistic regression models of developmental adversities were used to adjust for potential confounders. Infants born to women who reported a UTI were less likely than were others to have a very low Mental Development Index (adjusted odds ratio = 0.5; 95% confidence interval: 0.3, 0.8), whereas infants born to women who reported a CVI were more likely than others to have a low Psychomotor Development Index (adjusted odds ratio = 1.7; 95% confidence interval: 1.04, 2.7). In this high-risk sample, maternal gestational CVI, but not UTI, was associated with a higher risk of impaired motor development at 2 years of age. The apparent protective effect of UTI might be spurious, reflect confounding due to untreated asymptomatic bacteriuria among women who were not given a diagnosis of UTI, or reflect preconditioning.
Radical Democracy and the Problem of Formalism

This paper examines the approach of two influential strands of contemporary political theory and their approaches to understanding democratic politics in contemporary context: the third-generation Frankfurt School critical theory of Axel Honneth and the radical democratic theory of Jacques Ranciere. While there are important differences between these two approaches, this paper identifies a crucial similarity between them: both theorists tend to enforce a strict separation between the domains of the economy and the political that forecloses an analysis of democratic politics in relation to the historically specific dynamics of commodity production, circulation, and finance capital. Both Ranciere’s attempt to think democracy in terms of the antagonistic logics of “politics” and “police” and Honneth’s analysis of political struggle in terms of the logic of “recognition,” are ultimately premised on the unconditional autonomy of politics. This premise results in what I term the problem of formalism in both of their theories. This paper suggests that such formalism is symptomatic of a general lack of theoretical terms within the discipline of political theory to describe the changing object of politics in the context of neoliberal capitalism or to grasp the socio-economic conditions of possibility of democratic practice. The paper inquires into alternative terms for understanding the relationship between the economy and the political beyond the “autonomy of the political” thesis in order to reconnect theories of radical democracy with a robust critique of contemporary capitalism.
Invited: Towards a scalable neuromorphic hardware for classification and prediction with stochastic No-Prop algorithms

Stochastic logic offers significant area efficiency when applied to high-density redundant neural architectures; while noisy chaotic fluctuations associated with stochastic learning systems have been proven to reduce overfitting and escape local minima. Feed forward networks with random weights are uniquely qualified for stochastic logic due to their static abstraction layer. In this research, we explore neuromorphic architectures for the emerging No Propagation (No-Prop) class of algorithms. Specifically, a scalable three layer No-Prop artificial neural network is designed using single-line bipolar stochastic digital logic. The network is defined in VHDL and remodeled in C# for behavioral testing. Preliminary results show that the network has the ability to generalize well, achieving 100% test accuracy for binary signal classification, and 64% test accuracy for five class hyper-spectral classification. Further, a discussion that highlights the need for more sophisticated behavioral models which efficiently simulate higher precision stochastic logic systems is also presented.
Use of Stem Cell Radiation Chimeras to Analyze How Domains of Specific Proteins Impact on Murine NK Cell Development In Vivo

Although the use of mutant mice has been extremely useful in identifying those proteins and molecules specifically required for the development of NK cells, the establishment of a well-defined protocol to replicate in vitro the major steps corresponding to the process of NK cell differentiation and maturation has enabled us to dissect the molecular events governing certain aspects of NK cell development. This chapter describes a protocol that combines both the use of mutant mice and the in vitro bone marrow (BM) culture system for examining the role of proteins and their putative signaling domains in NK cell development. BM-derived Lin-c-kit(+) stem cells expressing the protein of interest are first cultured for 6 days in a cocktail of cytokines that promote lymphoid development. The semi-differentiated cells are then transplanted into mice to complete their development in vivo. While all hematopoietic lineages can develop from these transplanted cells, we focus primarily on assessing the effect of the protein on the production of NK cells, as well as the acquisition of Ly49 receptors. The most prevalent advantage of this method is the ability to potentially link signaling regulators to known aspects of NK cell development.
Surgical Correction of Consecutive Esotropia With Unilateral Medial Rectus Recession.

Purpose Unilateral medial rectus recession is a treatment option to surgically correct consecutive esotropia. This study evaluated the surgical outcomes of patients who underwent unilateral medial rectus recession for the treatment of consecutive esotropia after surgery for intermittent exotropia. Methods The medical records of 16 patients who underwent surgical correction of consecutive esotropia with unilateral medial rectus recession were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with intermittent exotropia who were previously treated with one or multiple surgical procedures (8 bilateral lateral rectus recession, 7 recess-resect procedure, or 1 bilateral medial rectus resection) were included in the study. Three patients were adults and 13 patients were children. The mean age was 5 years for children and 50.3 years for adults. Consecutive esotropia was defined as residual manifest esodeviation of 10 prism diopters (PD) at 6 months postoperatively. Successful correction of consecutive esotropia was defined as the lack of manifest or intermittent tropia and esophoria/exophoria within 8 PD. Patients with monofixational exotropia were excluded from the study. Results Unilateral medial rectus recession was successful in the correction of consecutive esotropia in 10 of 16 cases (62.5%). Six of 16 (37.5%) patients had unsatisfactory postoperative alignment, with 5 patients showing recurrence of exotropia. Only one patient was undercorrected. Conclusions The success rate of surgical correction of consecutive esotropia with single muscle surgery was good. Recurrence of exotropia accounted for most of the failures, and all recurrences occurred in the group of patients initially treated surgically for intermittent exotropia with a recess-resect procedure.
Microfluidic Approaches to Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) for Detecting RNA Targets in Single Cells

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a powerful molecular technique in cell biology and microbiology for detection and localization of a nucleic acid target within an intact cell or chromosome spread, based on hybridization of a fluorescently labeled nucleic acid “probe” to its complementary target. In some instances, FISH analysis is performed on intact samples—whether thin tissue sections, or environmental samples, allowing the nucleic acid target to be localized in context with other cells. FISH evolved from in situ hybridization (ISH) techniques utilizing radiolabeled probes. By comparison, FISH typically utilizes small-molecule fluorophores. This labeling approach eliminates the hazards associated with radioactivity, and allows analysis with common laboratory instrumentation, including epifluorescence or laser-scanning confocal microscopes, or flow cytometers. Unlike PCR, sequencing, or most other nucleic acid analysis methods, FISH is fundamentally a single-cell measurement technique. Whether using imaging or flow cytometry as a readout, the signals from FISH are detected and analyzed on a cell-by-cell basis, affording a unique capability for studying rare events or heterogeneity within a population. Coupling of FISH with flow sorters also affords a unique capability for enriching cell or chromosome populations or even isolating single cells based on presence of specific nucleic acid targets [7, 10, 43].
Induction of serum stimulation and plasma cell proliferation during chemotherapy of multiple myeloma

Sequential sera from 45 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and from 6 patients with solid tumors but normal bone marrows who received cyclophosphamide, 15 mg/kg/day for 4 days, were assayed for their effects on tritiated thymidine (3H-TdR) incorporation by normal bone marrow cells and malignant plasma cells. Pretreatment sera from 23 of the 45 patients with MM inhibited normal marrow cell proliferation relative to the effects of normal sera. Of these 45 sera, 30 inhibited plasma cell proliferation. This humoral inhibition was overcome by the induction of humoral stimulation at a predictable time during chemotherapy. The sera obtained sequentially from patients with MM and patients with normal bone marrows increased 3H-TdR uptake by both cell types by days 12–15 of therapy. Sequential changes in malignant marrow plasma cell 3H-TdR labeling indices paralleled the changes in serum activity, with an increased tumor cell growth fraction occurring at the time of peak serum stimulatory activity. The relationship between serum stimulation and malignant plasma cell proliferation was confirmed in vitro.
Performance evaluation of UWB systems in the presence of timing jitter

In this paper, performances of different ultrawideband (UWB) modulation schemes in the presence of timing jitter are evaluated and compared. Static and Rayleigh fading channels are considered. For fading channels, flat and dispersive channels are assumed. First, bit error rate (BER) performances for each case are derived for a fixed value of timing jitter. Later, a uniform distribution of jitter is assumed to evaluate the performance of the system, and the theoretical results are verified by computer simulations. Finger estimation error is treated as timing jitter and an appropriate model is generated. Furthermore, a worst case distribution that provides an upper bound on the system performance is presented and compared with other distributions. Effects of timing jitter on systems employing different pulse shapes are analyzed to show the dependency of UWB performance on pulse shape. Although our analysis assumes uniform timing jitter, our framework can be used to evaluate the BER performance for any given probability distribution function of the jitter.
Isopycnal eddy mixing across the Kuroshio Extension: Stable versus unstable states in an eddying model

The Kuroshio Extension (KE) jet transitions between stable and unstable states on interannual time scales. Cross-jet eddy mixing in the two states is contrasted in the KE region (28° – 40°N, 125 – 165°E), using a global eddying 0.1° configuration of the Parallel Ocean Program with online numerical particles. The four-year period chosen (June 1994 to May 1998) covers a full cycle of the stable state, unstable state and the transition period. Large values of cross-jet eddy diffusivities within the KE jet are concentrated in the upper 1000m. In the upper ocean, elevated cross-jet mixing within the KE jet is mainly concentrated in the downstream part of the KE jet, where the jet is weak but eddy activity is strong. The simulated time-mean KE jet is more intense and extends further east in the stable state than in the unstable state. Consequently, strong cross-jet mixing within the KE jet is located west of 150oE during June 1996-May 1997 (a typical unstable state), but east of 150oE during June 1995-May 1996 (a typical stable state). However, average mixing within the KE jet is indistinguishable in the typical stable and unstable states. In the deep ocean, mixing is strongly influenced by topography, and thus their horizontal structures have less inter-annual variability than in the upper ocean. One caveat is that results here cover one representative cycle of the two states. To obtain the climate mean mixing structures for the stable or unstable state, one would need numerical output covering a period much longer than four years.
Assessing Child Body Mass Index Perceptions Among African American Caregivers in a Rural Community

In the USA, African American children residing in rural areas are disproportionately affected by childhood obesity. One strategy for preventing childhood obesity is helping caregivers to recognize their child is overweight or obese. The purpose of this study is to assess African American caregivers’ perceived level of their child’s obesity status and concordance between caregiver’s reported height and weight of their children compared to the objective measure of their child’s height and weight. Caregivers completed a paper-based survey about perceptions of their child’s weight status including body silhouettes (n = 119) and self-reported their child’s body mass index status (n = 68). Children’s (n = 71) height and weight were objectively measured. Spearman rho and independent sample t tests were calculated to assess the relationship between caregiver’s self-reported and objective BMI status. Caregiver’s visually perceived their child’s weight status to be underweight; yet, self-reported that their child’s body mass index status was obese. The Spearman’s rho correlation indicated a significant relationship between caregiver’s self-reported and objective body mass index (r = .39, p < .001). The independent sample t test reflected that the mean self-reported body mass index and objective body mass index were statistically significant with calculated body mass index perception. The investigation of three different methods for assessing body mass index perceptions may contribute to the development of tailored programs and interventions that include counseling strategies that increase parental education about their child’s body mass index.
Patient Safety Interprofessional Training for Medical, Nursing, and Pharmacy Students

Introduction Patient safety education is required in medical, nursing, and pharmacy training, and interprofessional education offers an ideal format for teaching the core concepts of patient safety...
Abstract TMP68: Vulnerability to Health Disparities and Secondary Stroke Prevention: The REGARDS Study

There are few studies on the effect of multiple vulnerabilities to health disparities identified in the AHRQ 2012 report on secondary stroke prevention. We examined the effects of 5 vulnerability domains (race, age, region, health insurance and income) on the prescription of secondary stroke prevention medications at discharge following hospitalization for an acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in a large, national cohort of patients admitted to unselected hospitals. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of admissions for AIS between 2003-2012 within the REGARDS cohort. Discharge medications, insurance status, and age at time of stroke event were obtained from hospital records. Race, region and income Results: 664 participants met the inclusion criteria. 132 (20%) of the study participants had ≥ 3 vulnerabilities (v score of 3-5). Participants with ≥ 3 vulnerabilities were more likely to be black (80.3%), > 75 years old (63.6%), and to report income Conclusion: The presence of multiple vulnerabilities was associated with lower adherence by healthcare providers to secondary stroke prevention recommendations for discharge prescriptions.
Identifying disease foci from static and dynamic effective connectivity networks: Illustration in soldiers with trauma

Brain connectivity studies report group differences in pairwise connection strengths. While informative, such results are difficult to interpret since our understanding of the brain relies on region-based properties, rather than on connection information. Given that large disruptions in the brain are often caused by a few pivotal sources, we propose a novel framework to identify the sources of functional disruption from effective connectivity networks. Our approach integrates static and time-varying effective connectivity modeling in a probabilistic framework, to identify aberrant foci and the corresponding aberrant connectomics network. Using resting-state fMRI, we illustrate the utility of this novel approach in U.S. Army soldiers (N = 87) with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and combat controls. Additionally, we employed machine-learning classification to identify those significant connectivity features that possessed high predictive ability. We identified three disrupted foci (middle frontal gyrus [MFG], insula, hippocampus), and an aberrant prefrontal-subcortical-parietal network of information flow. We found the MFG to be the pivotal focus of network disruption, with aberrant strength and temporal-variability of effective connectivity to the insula, amygdala and hippocampus. These connectivities also possessed high predictive ability (giving a classification accuracy of 81%); and they exhibited significant associations with symptom severity and neurocognitive functioning. In summary, dysregulation originating in the MFG caused elevated and temporally less-variable connectivity in subcortical regions, followed by a similar effect on parietal memory-related regions. This mechanism likely contributes to the reduced control over traumatic memories leading to re-experiencing, hyperarousal and flashbacks observed in soldiers with PTSD and mTBI. Hum Brain Mapp 39:264-287, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Simulation of C-130 H/J troop doors and cargo ramp flow fields

Abstract This article presents the results of a continuing computational effort to understand the flow field characteristics of a C-130 Hercules aircraft configured for personnel airdrop operations. Flight operations with either the troop door or cargo open lead to vortical structures and unsteady flows which can adversely affect airdrop operations. Simulation results using the CFD solver Kestrel, developed within the High Performance Computing Modernization Program CREATETM-AV program, show vorticity generated behind the open cargo door and with the flaps extended, a relatively strong vortex forms along the fuselage which traverses above the troop door into the upsweep section of the aircraft tail. Open troop door simulations capture large velocity gradients and unsteadiness for configurations with and without actuator disk propeller models and with and without sideslip. Simulations are computed on both converged hybrid meshes on the order of 100 × 106 cells and near-body/Cartesian off-body grids, and these results reconfirm that vortex modeling is dependent on mesh resolution around troop door or cargo ramp. The addition of a refined mesh near the troop door, in conjunction with using a delayed detached-eddy turbulence model, provided highly resolved flow physics in this region of interest.
A THEORETICAL ANALYSIS OF NONISOTHERMAL FLOW OF TWO SUPERIMPOSED FLUIDS IN A CONVERGING GEOMETRY

Abstract In most wire-coating coextrusion dies, two polymeric melts flow in contact with each other through a converging section. In this paper, a theoretical treatment has been carried out on this converging flow of superimposed viscoelastic fluids assuming a modified second order fluid model for the constitutive equation of each fluid. The energy balance equation has also been solved simultaneously. Numerical methods have been employed to solve this flow problem. The results of the computer program are radial profiles of viscosity, shear stress, normal stress, velocity and temperature at all axial locations and the pressure drop across the length of the die. Pressure gradient, location of the interface and viscosity ratio at the interface are also calculated at each axial location. This program can also be used for dies in which tapering angles change along the length and thus it will prove useful in optimizing the die geometry for any specific wire-coating application.
Robust Stabilization and Disturbance Rejection for Uncertain Systems by Decentralized Control

This paper develops a decentralized control design which provides robust H ∞ disturbance rejection for a plant with structured uncertainty in a bounded admissible set. The design consists of an observer in each control channel, which includes estimates of the controls generated in the other channels and of the worst disturbance as determined by a state-feedback H ∞ solution. The observer gains are computed from a positive-definite solution of a Riccati-like algebraic equation. A convexity property of a matrix Riccati function is used to compute for the closed-loop system an H ∞-norm bound smaller than the predetermined bound, and to find an enlarged admissible set of plant uncertainities.
Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for the CAPM

The general restrictions on all economic primitives (for example, (a) endowments, (b) preferences and (c) asset return distributions) that yield either the CAPM or derived preferences over mean and variance alone in equilibrium are provided. These results are then used to derive necessary and sufficient conditions on preferences and the distribution of asset returns alone that provide the CAPM. In particular we show that the CAPM can hold in the class of polynomial utility functions and pseudo-elliptical asset return distributions. This class includes the already known conditions under which the CAPM holds (quadratic utility or two-fund separating distributions). Furthermore, we show that the CAPM cannot hold for analytic utility functions and return distributions that are not in this class. Unfortunately, this class of restrictions is no more appealing, empirically, than the already well known restrictions that provide the CAPM. Consequently, this paper shows that no set of empirically appealing conditions on primitives exist that can provide the CAPM.
Lola, the mobile robot from NC state

Lola is a Nomad 200 with a standard l6-transducer sonar ring and tactile bumper sensors. We have taken advantage of the Nomad’s modularity and moved 3 of the rear sonars to the front just above the bumper. This provides Lola with the ability t,o sense chairs and other potential obstacles that might otherwise be unseen. Lola’s main processor is a 486DX2-66 running Linux (Unix). The combination of Linux and wireless Ethernet makes code development on Lola a real joy. That is, from any workstation on the network (including the Internet) we can telnet to Lola and export the display for developing, debugging and executing code while monitoring Lola’s status during operation, which beats having to wheel around a terminal and extension cord. The idea is to do all development without leaving your chair. The vision hardware consists of an on-board image processor and a single RGB camera mounted on a pan/tilt unit. Lola’s image processor was purchased from Traquair Data Systems and is blessed with two ‘C40 DSP’s running in parallel. Performing all computation on-board has several advantages: the video data is not corrupted by radio transmission noise, commands are not lost, and there is no communication lag that may result in Lola crashing into things. These findings are consistent with those of previous competitors. On the downside, the on-board image processor contributes significantly to the battery drain, which is partly due to its intended desktop use. Still, we are able to get about 2 hours of operation per charge.
Using Machine Learning to Predict Success or Failure in Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Cases

Obtaining a chapter 13 bankruptcy discharge is notoriously difficult. Past empirical studies conclude that only one-third of chapter 13 debtors complete their obligations under their plans and obtain a chapter 13 discharge. Many cases end up dismissed, or converted to a case under chapter 7. New data recently made available by the Federal Judicial Center, shows that in recent years only about 39% of chapter 13 filers successfully obtain their chapter 13 discharges. These are low numbers. In this project I examined a public case level database made available in 2017 by the US Federal Judicial Center, based on information collected by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. The project examines the extent and quality of this data, and the steps needed to use it for advanced statistical analysis and application of machine learning models. This project goes beyond such descriptive statistics. Using machine learning algorithms – so-called artificial intelligence – it describes a model that can predict, using data from the Federal Judicial Center's Integrated Database, whether a debtor will obtain a chapter 13 discharge based only on information provided in the initial petition and summary of schedules. The model is able to predict case results with 70% accuracy overall – and for about 25% of cases can predict results with more than 90% accuracy. When case predictions are cross-referenced against actual case results, the model can assign to specific cases a highly accurate probability of success. The model uses a random forest decision tree algorithm to achieve its results, although nearly similar results were also obtained using a neural network. The model, relevant scripts, and related files and instructions for use are available online through Github at /warrenagin/Ch13Learner.
Investigation of the Burning Properties of Low-Toxicity B/CuO Delay Compositions

This study explored the reaction characteristics and the burning properties of low-toxicity B/CuO delay compositions. Firstly, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG) were...
Shift models for dose-finding in partially ordered groups.

BackgroundLimited options are available for dose-finding clinical trials requiring group-specific dose selection. While conducting parallel trials for groups is an accessible approach to group-spec...
Twelve tips for developing and implementing a medical education Twitter chat

Live discussions on the social media site Twitter or Twitter chats are gaining popularity as powerful tools for engaging a broad audience in an interactive discussion. Medical education, in particular, is experiencing an increase in the use of this modality to support informal learning, as a means to encourage collaboration and share best practices, and as a platform for large-scale mentorship. Despite this growth in popularity, there are limited data to guide medical educators on the fundamentals of organizing a Twitter chat. In this Twelve Tips article, we discuss strategies relevant to potential Twitter chat organizers. We have arranged the tips chronologically, beginning with a discussion of initial considerations when planning and formulating a chat topic and publicizing the chat to potentially interested people and groups, followed by practical considerations while hosting the chat, and finally strategies for evaluating and extending a Twitter chat's impact.
Some remarks and clarifications concerning the restrictions placed on thermodynamic processes

Abstract Various disparate restrictions are assumed with regard to bodies undergoing thermodynamic processes, in addition to the second law, to cull the class of constitutive relations for describing their response. In this paper we critically evaluate some of these additional restrictions. After a brief discussion of the various forms of the second law due to the pioneers in the field we turn our attention to an assessment of additional stringent restrictions due to Onsager, Prigogine, Ziegler, and Edelen. With the use of specific examples we show the pitfalls and inadequacies of these additional restrictions. The importance of identifying the “cause” (which we refer to as the “determinant” which is incorrectly referred to as “flux”) and its “effect” (which we refer to as the “resultant” which is incorrectly referred to as “affinity”) and not merely splitting the “determinant” on the basis of mathematical ease rather than understanding the underlying physics, is emphasized by considering specific examples.
Statement of Jeanne M. Woods and Hope Lewis to the UN Independent Expert on Human Rights and Extreme Poverty

This Statement was submitted to the UN Independent Expert on Human Rights and Extreme Poverty, Dr. Arjun Sengupta in the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina disaster on the Gulf Coast of the United States in 2005. The authors are international legal scholars and human rights advocates Jeanne M. Woods, Henry F. Bonura Professor of Law (Loyola School of Law (New Orleans) and Hope Lewis, Professor of Law (Northeastern University School of Law). The Statement, submitted during the Independent Expert's fact-finding visit, expresses concern about the extensive and alarming human rights implications of United States federal, state and local government policy and activities before, during, and after Hurricane Katrina. The Statement argues that the inadequate response of government officials at all levels reflects the impact of "globalization in miniature" on the poor and other vulnerable and subordinated groups. The panoply of human rights implicated in the aftermath of the disaster includes classic civil and political rights, as well as so-called "second generation" rights (e.g. the rights to food, housing and education, the right to health, the right to work for a decent wage, and the right to enjoy the unique cultural legacy of the region.)
Quantification of cell concentration in biofuel-important microalgae using hyperspectral reflectance and hyperspectral extinction coefficient

ABSTRACTMonitoring of microalgae cell concentration during their growing phase is imperative to ensure efficiency in biomass production and to study the cell division kinetics since it impacts the ...
Party-Determined Viability and Gender Bias in Open-List Proportional Representation Systems

Using individual-level data from three Lithuanian legislative elections (2008, 2012, 2016), this article investigates voter bias in an open-list proportional representation system in which parties rank candidates but voters are able to fully influence the rank order through preferential voting. This study examines the average effects of and variation in gender bias among voters of different parties. Most importantly, it also investigates how party cues interact with gender cues—that is, whether discriminatory tendencies vary by a candidate's party-determined viability. After establishing that there is no evidence of elite bias in favor of or against women candidates, with the exception of the Social Democrats and a few other parties, I demonstrate that, on average, female Lithuanian politicians receive approximately 7% fewer preferential votes than their male counterparts. In addition, the models predict that gender bias is most pronounced against the female candidates who are best placed to enter parliament. Finally, I demonstrate that Social Democratic voters are, on average, the most undisposed toward female candidates, correcting for positive elite bias toward female candidates from the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, while voters of the Homeland Union party (conservatives) strongly prefer women politicians.
Model Thinking: An Approach for Coping with an Increasingly Complex World

We need to train the next generation of scientists, modelers and analysts to be technically competent and socially aware transdisciplinary collaborators. Model thinking and Modeling and Simulation can play an even more significant role in society if we expand our horizons beyond socio-technical problems and tackle broader challenges impacting the human condition. In this paper, we discuss transdisciplinary collaboration, inclusion and social awareness as three pillars that can form the basis for maintaining and increasing the relevance of our field in a world where technological change is outpacing our ability to manage and predict its impact on key aspects oflife and society.
Investigating the variability of active galactic nuclei using combined multi-quarter Kepler data

We used photometry from the Kepler satellite to characterize the variability of four radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGNs) on timescales from years to minutes. The Kepler satellite produced nearly continuous high precision data sets which provided better temporal coverage than possible with ground based observations. We have now accumulated 11 quarters of data, eight of which were reported in our previous paper. In addition to constructing power spectral densities (PSDs) and characterizing the variability of the last three quarters, we have linked together the individual quarters using a multiplicative scaling process, providing data sets spanning ~2.8?yr with >98% coverage at a 30 minute sampling rate. We compute PSDs on these connected data sets that yield power law slopes at low frequencies in the approximate range of ?1.5 to ?2.0, with white noise seen at higher frequencies. These PSDs are similar to those of both the individual quarters and to those of ground-based optical observations of other AGNs. We also have explored a PSD binning method intended to reduce a bias toward shallow slope fits by evenly distributing the points within the PSDs. This tends to steepen the computed PSD slopes, especially when the low frequencies are relatively poorly fit. We detected flares lasting several days in which the brightness increased by ~15%-20% in one object, as well a smaller flare in another. Two AGNs showed only small, ~1%-2%, fluctuations in brightness.
Practices of Athletic Trainers Using Weight Charts to Determine Hydration Status and Fluid-Intervention Strategies.

Context Determining an athlete's hydration status allows hydration-related concerns to be identified before significant medical or performance concerns arise. Weight charts are an accurate measure of hydration status changes, yet their clinical use by athletic trainers (ATs) is unknown. Objective To investigate ATs' use of weight charts in athletic settings and describe their subsequent clinical decisions. Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting High schools and National Collegiate Athletic Association Divisions I, II, III and National Association Intercollegiate Athletics colleges. Patients or other participants A total of 354 ATs (men = 162, women = 175; 17 respondents did not answer the demographic questions) responded across athletic settings (Division I [45.7%]; Division II, Division III, National Association Intercollegiate Athletics combined [n = 19.9%]; and high school [34.4%]). Main outcome measure(s) The 26-question online survey was developed by content experts and pilot tested before data collection. Participants answered questions focused on weight-chart use (implementation, timing, and calculations) and clinical decision processes (policies, interventions, and referral). Frequency statistics were calculated. Results The majority of ATs (57.2%) did not use weight charts. Of those who did, most (76.0%) used charts with football, soccer (28%), and wrestling (6%) athletes. They calculated changes as either an absolute (42.2%) or percentage (36.7%) change from prepractice to postpractice; only 11.7% used a baseline weight for calculations. Of those who used the percentage change in body mass, 66.0% selected a threshold of -3% to -4% for an intervention. Most ATs (97.0%) intervened with verbal education, whereas only one-third (37.0%) provided specific fluid amounts based on body mass changes. Conclusions Typically, ATs in athletic settings did not use weight charts. They considered a body mass change of -3% the indication for intervention but did not specify rehydration amounts for hypohydrated athletes. Educational workshops or technology applications could be developed to encourage ATs to use weight charts and calculate appropriate individual fluid interventions for their athletes.