cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fast Cryptographic Primitives and Circular-Secure Encryption Based on Hard Learning Problems

The well-studied task of learning a linear function with errors is a seemingly hard problem and the basis for several cryptographic schemes. Here we demonstrate additional applications that enjoy strong security properties and a high level of efficiency. Namely, we construct: 1 Public-key and symmetric-key cryptosystems that provide security for key-dependent messages and enjoy circular security. Our schemes are highly efficient: in both cases the ciphertext is only a constant factor larger than the plaintext, and the cost of encryption and decryption is only n·polylog(n) bit operations per message symbol in the public-key case, and polylog(n) bit operations in the symmetric-case. 1 Two efficient pseudorandom objects: a "weak randomized pseudorandom function" -- a relaxation of standard PRF -- that can be computed obliviously via a simple protocol, and a length-doubling pseudorandom generator that can be computed by a circuit of n ·polylog(n) size. The complexity of our pseudorandom generator almost matches the complexity of the fastest known construction (Applebaum et al., RANDOM 2006), which runs in linear time at the expense of relying on a nonstandard intractability assumption. Our constructions and security proofs are simple and natural, and involve new techniques that may be of independent interest. In addition, by combining our constructions with prior ones, we get fast implementations of several other primitives and protocols.
Systemic infections due to Streptococcus pneumoniae relatively resistant to penicillin in a children's hospital: Clinical management and outcome

Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates relatively (0.1 microgram/mL < minimum inhibitory concentration < or = 1.0 microgram/mL) resistant to penicillin (RRP) have been recovered worldwide, but reports of therapy and outcome of systemic infections due to these strains are limited. This retrospective study of prospectively identified patients reviews the clinical features, management, and outcome of 19 children with systemic infections due to S pneumoniae. From January 1, 1989 to December 31, 1991, 13 of 244 blood (5.3%) and 4 of 32 cerebrospinal fluid (12.5%) pneumococcal isolates were relatively resistant to penicillin. The serotypes were as follows: 14 (12 isolates), 6 (4 isolates), 19 (2 isolates), 23 (1 isolates). One peritoneal fluid isolate and one joint fluid isolate were also relatively resistant to penicillin. The mean age of the 19 patients was 30 months (range 5 to 104 months), and five children had underlying disorders. Eleven children (nine inpatients) were treated initially with a parenteral cephalosporin. Six patients were treated as outpatients, and all had (occult) bacteremia. Three of these patients received ceftriaxone intramuscularly in the emergency department; five were treated with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and one received amoxicillin. Seven of 13 children treated in the hospital became afebrile in 48 hours. Three others were afebrile from the time of admission. Repeat blood cultures obtained within 24 to 48 hours after therapy was initiated were sterile in 10 children. All but one child responded to initial therapy. The recovery of S pneumoniae isolates relatively resistant to penicillin has increased in our hospital during the last 3 years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Aboriginal Group Identification and Problem Drinking

Empirical research on Australian Aboriginal alcohol abuse is nearly nonexistent. In this study, 72 Aboriginal alcohol abusers were interviewed. The basic aim was to ascertain the effect of group identity in social fringe groups on drinking behavior. Aboriginal group identity was related to indices of alcohol abuse and alcoholic symptoms. In the rejected urban fringes of society, Aboriginal group identity represents the last link to a social network. This contention was supported by the relationship of Aboriginal group identity to social stress, lack of acceptance, and white pressure. These results point to the defensive nature of excess drinking behavior as part of the culture of fringe groups.
Median effect analysis of efficacy versus adverse effects of immunosuppressants.

Background A rigorous model to describe concentration-effect relations—the median effect analysis—was applied to quantitate immunosuppressive versus adverse effects in human renal transplantation. Methods The median effect equation was used to analyze data collected from three clinical studies, including the two phase III blinded, placebo-controlled trials (n = 1295 patients) of sirolimus versus azathioprine or placebo treatment added to a cyclosporine (INN, ciclosporin)/prednisone regimen and a sirolimus/azathioprine/prednisone (in the absence of cyclosporine) phase II cohort (n = 41 patients). Results The clinical effects correlated with drug concentrations as expressed by the median effect equation. Sirolimus or cyclosporine alone permitted drug concentrations that were 5-fold and 2.2-fold lower, respectively, to render 90% of patients rejection-free, suggesting a synergistic interaction between the two drugs. Further, the sirolimus concentrations to render 50% of patients rejection-free were about 200-fold and 60-fold less, respectively, than the concentration that caused 50% of patients to experience thrombocytopenia or hypertriglyceridemia. The correlation coefficient of the median effect analysis for the occurrence of hypercholesterolemia was more robust for sirolimus than for cyclosporine. Although the concentrations for 50% of patients rendered rejection-free versus 50% affected by hypercholesterolemia were similar, a 7-fold difference was calculated between the concentrations at which 90% of patients were free of rejection versus patients who were affected by hypercholesterolemia. Conclusion The median effect analysis proffers a useful tool to assess both drug interactions and the windows between therapeutic versus toxic effects of immunosuppressive agents. The current analysis suggests a synergistic interaction between sirolimus and cyclosporine. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2001) 70, 74–81; doi: 10.1067/mcp.2001.116309
Biochemical and morphological effects of gentamicin in human proximal tubular cells: effects on lipid and lipoprotein metabolism.

The effects of gentamicin, an antibiotic used extensively for antimicrobial therapy on the ultrastructure, binding, internalization, degradation, and cholesterol esterification of low-density lipoproteins, were investigated in cultured human proximal tubular cells. Cells were incubated with 0.3 mM gentamicin for 21 days with the following observations. Cells treated with gentamicin contained numerous "myeloid bodies." The binding, internalization, and degradation of 125I-labeled low-density lipoproteins ([125I]LDL) in cells treated with gentamicin was twofold lower than control cells. Pulse–chase experiments demonstrated that gentamicin did not impair the internalization of receptor-bound LDL and their subsequent transport to the lysosome. The relative amounts of [125I]LDL displaced by increasing concentrations of unlabeled LDL were the same in both gentamicin-treated and control cells. This pattern was reflected in the cell surface binding, internalization, and degradation of [125I]LDL. Gentamicin did no...
Accounting for uncertainty in the development of harvest strategies for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands lobster trap fishery

The development of a new, risk-averse harvest policy for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands lobster trap fishery, based on computer simulations, is described. The analysis results from a 1994 expert panel review recommendation to develop a new harvesting strategy that incorporated uncertainty in the stock assessment and variability in population processes, with the dual goals of achieving industry objectives (high average catch and catch stability) and low risk of recruitment overfishing. Monte Carlo projections of an age-based simulation model which allows for systematic, process, random and measurement error, as well as autocorrelation in recruitment innovations, were used to compare harvesting strategies and to assess their effects relative to the risk of overfishing over a range of discard mortality and retention scenarios. The expected effects of alternative strategies and consequences of uncertainty were presented to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council for evaluation, and a constant harvest rate strategy, subject to a 10% overfishing risk, was chosen. Because of the presumed high rate of discard mortality in the fishery, which has since been verified, the Council also chose a retain-all retention policy. The constant harvest rate associated with these objectives is 13%. 1999 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
Restoring ecological integrity of great rivers: historical hydrographs aid in defining reference conditions for the Missouri River

Restoring the ecological integrity of regulated large rivers necessitates characterizing the natural flow regime. We applied ‘Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration’ to assess the natural range of variation of the Missouri River’s flow regime at 11 locations before (1929–1948) and after (1967–1996) mainstem impoundment. The 3768 km long Missouri River was divided into three sections: upper basin least-altered from flow regulation, including the lower Yellowstone River; middle basin inter-reservoir, and lower basin channelized. Flow regulation was associated with a reduction in magnitude and duration of the annual flood pulse, an increase in magnitude and duration of annual discharge minima, a reduction in frequency of annual low-flow pulses, earlier timing of March-October low-flow pulses, and a general increase in frequency of flow reversals with a reduction in the rate of change in river flows. Hydrologic alterations were smallest at two least-altered upper-basin sites and most frequent and severe in interreservoir and upper-channelized river sections. The influence of reservoir operations on depressing the annual flood pulse was partially offset by tributary inflow in the lower 600 km of river. Reservoir operations could be modified to more closely approximate the 1929–1948 flow regime to establish a simulated natural riverine ecosystem. For inter-reservoir and upper channelized-river sections, we recommend periodic controlled flooding through managed reservoir releases during June and July; increased magnitude, frequency and duration of annual high-flow pulses; and increased annual rates of hydrograph rises and falls. All of the regulated Missouri River would benefit from reduced reservoir discharges during August-February, modified timing of reservoir releases and a reduced number of annual hydrograph reversals. Assessment of ecological responses to a reregulation of Missouri River flows that more closely approximates the natural flow regime should then be used in an adaptive fashion to further adjust reservoir operations.
Demonstrated reliability of plastic-encapsulated microcircuits for missile applications

For the past decade, overall reliability improvement and product availability have enabled plastic encapsulated microcircuits (PEM) to move from consumer electronics beyond the relatively large and reliability-conscious automotive market, into the military market. Based on the analysis of the worst-case PEM scenario for military applications, demonstrating the moisture reliability under long-term (20 years) dormant storage environments has become the last hurdle for PEM. Studies have demonstrated that PEM can meet the typical missile environments in long-term storage. To further validate PEM reliability in missile applications, Texas Instruments (TI) conducted three separate studies involving 6 years of PEM moisture-life monitoring and assessment, testing of the standard PEM electrical characteristics under the military temperature ranges (-55/spl deg/C to +125/spl deg/C), and assessing their robustness in moisture environments after the assembly processes. These TI studies support the use of PEM in missile (or similar) applications. Effective focus on part and supplier selection, supplier teaming, and process monitoring is necessary to maintain the PEM reliability over the required environments at the lowest cost. This paper assesses PEM reliability for a selected missile storage environment using the industry-standard moisture testing, such as biased HAST or 85/spl deg/C/85%RH (relative humidity), for demonstrating the PEM moisture survivability. The moisture reliability (MTTF) or average moisture lifetime of PEM is assessed to correlate PEM capability to anticipated field-performance environments. >
Remembering one year later: Role of the amygdala and the medial temporal lobe memory system in retrieving emotional memories

The memory-enhancing effect of emotion can be powerful and long-lasting. Most studies investigating the neural bases of this phenomenon have focused on encoding and early consolidation processes, and hence little is known regarding the contribution of retrieval processes, particularly after lengthy retention intervals. To address this issue, we used event-related functional MRI to measure neural activity during the retrieval of emotional and neutral pictures after a retention interval of 1 yr. Retrieval activity for emotional and neutral pictures was separately analyzed for successfully (hits) vs. unsuccessfully (misses) retrieved items and for responses based on recollection vs. familiarity. Recognition performance was better for emotional than for neutral pictures, and this effect was found only for recollection-based responses. Successful retrieval of emotional pictures elicited greater activity than successful retrieval of neutral pictures in the amygdala, entorhinal cortex, and hippocampus. Moreover, in the amygdala and hippocampus, the emotion effect was greater for recollection than for familiarity, whereas in the entorhinal cortex, it was similar for both forms of retrieval. These findings clarify the role of the amygdala and the medial temporal lobe memory regions in recollection and familiarity of emotional memory after lengthy retention intervals.
Subthalamic and red nucleus volumes in patients with Parkinson's disease: do they change with disease progression?

Abstract Objective To examine a possible correlation between disease progression and the volumes of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and red nucleus (RN) in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). Methods Twelve patients with PD (mean time since diagnosis 10.8 ± 2.9 years) and age-matched 12 normal control subjects were enrolled. The volumes of the STN and RN were measured using 3-dimensional volume reconstructions of stereotactic magnetic resonance images. Results The PD and control groups were similar with regard to age and gender. The STN volume was 0.13 ± 0.01 cm3 (mean ± SD) in PD patients and 0.27 ± 0.01 cm3 in controls (P Conclusions Our results suggest that advanced disease stage and longer disease duration are associated with increased RN volume. STN volume was significantly smaller in Parkinson group. These findings may be useful in estimating disease status and rate of progression, and may also have implications for surgical treatment. Larger studies are needed to validate these results and determine their usefulness.
Performance models for evaluation and automatic tuning of symmetric sparse matrix-vector multiply

We present optimizations for sparse matrix-vector multiply SpMV and its generalization to multiple vectors, SpMM, when the matrix is symmetric: (1) symmetric storage, (2) register blocking, and (3) vector blocking. Combined with register blocking, symmetry saves more than 50% in matrix storage. We also show performance speedups of 2.1/spl times/ for SpMV and 2.6/spl times/ for SpMM, when compared to the best nonsymmetric register blocked implementation. We present an approach for the selection of tuning parameters, based on empirical modeling and search that consists of three steps: (1) Off-line benchmark, (2) Runtime search, and (3) Heuristic performance model. This approach generally selects parameters to achieve performance with 85% of that achieved with exhaustive search. We evaluate our implementations with respect to upper bounds on performance. Our model bounds performance by considering only the cost of memory operations and using lower bounds on the number of cache misses. Our optimized codes are within 68% of the upper bounds.
From metacomputing to metabusiness processing

The importance of large-scale electrical business processing is increasing today as recent Internet technologies build on the basic infrastructure. Simply integrating existing technologies and resources to form a platform that satisfies large-scale electrical business processing requirements is nor enough, however. Legion is a wide-area distributed object system that offers mechanisms for describing, creating, and managing objects in a large-scale, heterogeneous, distributed computing environment. Its original design objective was to build a global virtual-computer system that uses Legion as its operating system for compute-intensive applications. The paper introduces our efforts to extend the Legion system into a backbone that supports business processing with consistent resource representations, identical service interfaces, and an easy-to-use development environment. We focus on a framework that supports CORBA from within the Legion system.
Interferon therapy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the comparative trials

Abstract Background Early and more recent systematic reviews of placebo controlled trials disagree about the relative efficacy of the commercially available INF-s treatments in studies of adults with RRMS. A limitation of these reviews is that they have derived their findings almost entirely from the pivotal trials and placebo controlled studies. Objective To provide the first meta-analytic study of head-to-head and comparative trials of INF-s agents in RRMS treatment. Methods OVID Medline and Cochrane Library electronic databases were searched using keywords “multiple sclerosis”, “interferon beta-1a”, and “interferon beta-1b”. Using a standardized abstraction form, three reviewers independently abstracted MRI, relapse rate, and disability (EDSS) data. RevMan5 software was used to calculate relative risk (RR) and absolute risk differences (RD) based on event rates. Results High dose treatment demonstrated superior relapse reduction and MRI stability compared to low dose treatment. There was also a trend observed in the aggregate analyses of disability progression (EDSS) favoring high dose treatment. Conclusions High dose INF-s treatment demonstrated superior relapse control and MRI stability compared to low dose treatment in a systematic review of comparative studies. These results contradict those of earlier systematic reviews and support the conclusions of more recent systematic reviews of the placebo controlled trials.
A COMPARATIVE EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH ACCOUNTING INTERNSHIPS

Internships are a popular element used to enhance accounting education. Although previous studies have considered internships, many have addressed enhancement of subsequent academic and professional performance. The purpose of this paper is broader and examines several characteristics of accounting internships: the frequency of participation, eligibility requirements, process for securing internships, level of participation, availability and amount of academic credit, area of assignments, nature of post-internship requirements, and benefits to students. Two random samples, one in 1998 and one in 2003, of 100 accounting programs were analyzed in the study. For each program selected, the survey was mailed to accounting program administrators. Responses were collected by fax. The results of this study should be of interest to accounting students, faculty program administrators, and practitioners. Gaining real-life knowledge of accounting tasks and obtaining insight regarding career planning were the two most important benefits identified. Future research should consider the perceptions of accounting students and practitioners.
Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia

Long before the discovery of REM sleep, many observers of human behavior had suggested that there is an interrelationship between sleep and mental illness. The English neurologist Hughlings Jackson wrote, “Find out about dreams and you will find out about insanity.” Likewise Jung predicted, “Let the dreamer walk about and act like one awakened, and we have the clinical picture of dementia praecox.” And, Freud, after a long review of the postulated relationships between sleep and insanity wrote, “We shall be working towards an explanation of the psychoses while we are endeavoring to throw light on some of the mystery of dreams.” To paraphrase Frederick Snyder’s graceful expression of these views, “Troubled minds have troubled sleep, and troubled sleep causes troubled minds.”
Low-income children feel safer walking/biking to school: physical activity-related perceptions differ by income status in 5th graders (380.2)

Objectives: We examined baseline health-related behaviors and perceptions by income status in children participating in 5th Gear Kids, a multi-level childhood obesity prevention program in 5th Grad...
Limits on foreground subtraction from chromatic beam effects in global redshifted 21 cm measurements

Foreground subtraction in global redshifted 21 cm measurements is limited by frequency-dependent (chromatic) structure in antenna beam patterns. Chromatic beams couple angular structures in Galactic foreground emission to spectral structures that may not be removed by smooth functional forms. We report results for simulations based on two dipole antennas used by the Experiment to Detect the Global EoR Signature (EDGES). The residual levels in simulated foreground-subtracted spectra are found to differ substantially between the two antennas, suggesting that antenna design must be carefully considered. Residuals are also highly dependent on the right ascension and declination of the antenna pointing, with RMS values differing by as much as a factor of 20 across pointings. For EDGES and other ground-based experiments with zenith pointing antennas, right ascension and declination correspond directly to the local sidereal time and the latitude of the deployment site, hence chromatic beam effects should be taken into account when selecting sites. We introduce the "blade" dipole antenna and show, via simulations, that it has better chromatic performance than the "fourpoint" antenna previously used for EDGES. The blade antenna yields 1-5~mK residuals across the entire sky after a 5-term polynomial is removed from simulated spectra, whereas the fourpoint antenna typically requires a 6-term polynomial for comparable residuals. For both antennas, the signal-to-noise ratio of recovered 21 cm input signals peaks for a 5-term polynomial foreground fit given realistic thermal noise levels.
Pole structure of the Λ(1405) in a recent QCD simulation

The $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}(1405)$ baryon is difficult to detect in experiment, absent in many quark model calculations, and supposedly manifested through a two-pole structure. Its uncommon properties make it the subject of numerous experimental and theoretical studies, including those by the Adelaide group who report lattice-QCD eigenvalues for different quark masses. We compare these eigenvalues to predictions of a model based on Unitary Chiral Perturbation Theory. The $\mathrm{U}\ensuremath{\chi}\mathrm{PT}$ calculation predicts the quark mass dependence remarkably well. It also predicts the overlap pattern with different meson-baryon components, mainly $\ensuremath{\pi}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}$ and $\overline{K}N$, at different quark masses, which might help in the construction of meson-baryon operators for improved level detection on the lattice. More accurate lattice QCD data are required to draw definite conclusions on the nature of the $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}(1405)$.
On Approximating Node-Disjoint Paths in Grids

In the Node-Disjoint Paths (NDP) problem, the input is an undirected n-vertex graph G, and a collection {(s_1,t_1),...,(s_k,t_k)} of pairs of vertices called demand pairs. The goal is to route the largest possible number of the demand pairs (s_i,t_i), by selecting a path connecting each such pair, so that the resulting paths are node-disjoint. NDP is one of the most basic and extensively studied routing problems. Unfortunately, its approximability is far from being well-understood: the best current upper bound of O(sqrt(n)) is achieved via a simple greedy algorithm, while the best current lower bound on its approximability is Omega(log^{1/2-\delta}(n)) for any constant delta. Even for seemingly simpler special cases, such as planar graphs, and even grid graphs, no better approximation algorithms are currently known. A major reason for this impasse is that the standard technique for designing approximation algorithms for routing problems is LP-rounding of the standard multicommodity flow relaxation of the problem, whose integrality gap for NDP is Omega(sqrt(n)) even on grid graphs. Our main result is an O(n^{1/4} * log(n))-approximation algorithm for NDP on grids. We distinguish between demand pairs with both vertices close to the grid boundary, and pairs where at least one of the two vertices is far from the grid boundary. Our algorithm shows that when all demand pairs are of the latter type, the integrality gap of the multicommodity flow LP-relaxation is at most O(n^{1/4} * log(n)), and we deal with demand pairs of the former type by other methods. We complement our upper bounds by proving that NDP is APX-hard on grid graphs.
On the uncertainty in mesoscale modeling caused by surface parameters

The uncertainty of plant- and soil parameters (albedo, evaporative conductivity, roughness-length, soil volumetric heat capacity, field capacity, capillarity, emissivity), soil-type, subgrid-scale heterogeneity and inhomogeneity on mesoscale model results (e.g., fluxes, variables of state, cloud- and precipitation-formation) is explored. Simulations are performed wherein one parameter at a time is changed for all grid cells of the domain within its natural range of variability. The land-surface scheme employs the frequently operated force-restore-method and a one-dimensional heat-diffusion equation. Transpiration is considered by the often applied “big-leaf/big-stoma”-approach. Except for wind, cloud- and precipitating-particles the uncertainty in the simulated quantities due to soil- or plant-parameters is lower at night and in the early afternoon than at the other time of the day. Therefore, evaluation of meteorological models should be performed at those times when the sensitivity to the choice of plant- and soil-parameters is at a minimum. According to the calculated probability density functions and similarity coefficients, the partitioning of excess water vapor between cloud water and ice can be significantly affected by the choice of field capacity, capillarity, volumetric heat capacity, thermal diffusivity and the emissivity of the earth’s surface. Considering these findings domain-specific and actual parameters should be preferred.
Flux cutting in high-T c superconductors

A magneto-optical study of flux distributions in superconducting YBCO under various applied crossed-field orientations elucidates the complex nature of magnetic flux cutting, and reveals unusual vortex patterns induced by the interplay between flux-cutting and vortex pinning.
THE FOUNDING OF A NEW POPULATION OF DARWIN'S FINCHES.

We report the natural colonization of the small Galapagos island Daphne Major by the large ground finch (Geospiza magnirostris). Immigrants of this species were present in every year of a 22-yr study, 1973-1994. Typically they arrived after a breeding season and left at the beginning of the next one. Geospiza magnirostris bred on the island for the first time in the exceptionally wet El Nino year of 1982-1983, and bred in all subsequent years except drought years. In agreement with theoretical expectations the frequency of inbreeding was unusually high. Pronounced fluctuating asymmetry in tarsus length, together with slightly reduced breeding success of inbreeding pairs, suggests a low level of inbreeding depression. Despite this, the population increased from 5 breeding individuals in 1983 to 20 breeding individuals in 1992, and probably more than twice that number in 1993, largely through recruitment of locally born birds.
Research and Implementation of the Indicators Model Confi guration for Electric Power Production Management System

In order to adapt to the diverse needs of the user's actual application fl exibly and enhance the accuracy, security and fl exibility of the indicators model confi guration, this paper developed an indicators model confi guration tool based on Jquery framework. The implementation procedure is introduced in detail from the overall architecture, key technologies and procedure of design and implementation. The application of this model in operation and maintenance module of SGCC production management system has effectively verifi ed its validity. This tool can be easily used as a component by other business system through software migration.
A Metal Bellows Expansion Engine

In 1954 Long and Simon [1] constructed a metal bellows expansion engine for cryogenic service. The two major factors which limited the further development of this engine were the early failure of the bellows from fatigue, and the difficulty in properly filling the clearance volume inside the convolutions of the bellows. Recent advances in the construction of welded metal bellows have opened the possibility of significant progress in the development of such an engine.
Looking Back After 40 Years: El Memorial del 68

This chapter examines the Memorial del 68, a museum that opened in 2007 and houses a series of interviews/testimonios by those that actively participated in the events of 1968. The Memorial functions as a space of remembrance that embodies the slogan “El 68 no se olvida,” while it simultaneously opens the door to a wider set of arguments in relation to Tlatelolco’s legacy. While the museum portion of the Memorial appears to follow the same discursive line employed by the CNH, the testimonios offer a more complex notion of exactly who can be considered a participant in the events and provides a space through which others can add to, amend, or expand the discourse of 1968.
Capsular Preservation Using Suture Suspension Technique in Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement

This article describes the use of sutures to enhance visualization while protecting the capsule in both the central and peripheral compartments during hip arthroscopy. We describe first a technique to preserve the proximal capsule cuff while working in the central compartment and then an alternative to the T-capsulotomy while maintaining excellent visualization of the peripheral compartment during femoroplasty of cam-type femoroacetabular impingement. By use of suture suspension of the capsule, multiple goals are achieved: The integrity of the proximal capsule cuff is maintained while aiding in visualization of the central compartment; the iliofemoral ligament is spared, which plays a critical role in preventing microinstability; the necessary space is created to obtain adequate visualization of the peripheral compartment for complete femoroplasty; and operative time is reduced because creation and subsequent repair of the T-capsulotomy can be avoided.
Risk Prediction for Epithelial Ovarian Cancer in 11 United States-Based Case-Control Studies: Incorporation of Epidemiologic Risk Factors and 17 Confirmed Genetic Loci

Previously developed models for predicting absolute risk of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer have included a limited number of risk factors and have had low discriminatory power (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) < 0.60). Because of this, we developed and internally validated a relative risk prediction model that incorporates 17 established epidemiologic risk factors and 17 genome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using data from 11 case-control studies in the United States (5,793 cases; 9,512 controls) from the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium (data accrued from 1992 to 2010). We developed a hierarchical logistic regression model for predicting case-control status that included imputation of missing data. We randomly divided the data into an 80% training sample and used the remaining 20% for model evaluation. The AUC for the full model was 0.664. A reduced model without SNPs performed similarly (AUC = 0.649). Both models performed better than a baseline model that included age and study site only (AUC = 0.563). The best predictive power was obtained in the full model among women younger than 50 years of age (AUC = 0.714); however, the addition of SNPs increased the AUC the most for women older than 50 years of age (AUC = 0.638 vs. 0.616). Adapting this improved model to estimate absolute risk and evaluating it in prospective data sets is warranted.
Clinical characteristics of critically ill patients with suspected influenza during the 2009-10 and 2013-14 outbreaks.

Abstract Purpose Pandemic influenza A pdm09 (pH1N1) virus was the predominant isolate identified during the 2009-10 and 2013-14 influenza outbreaks, causing significant morbidity and mortality. We describe clinical characteristics of critically ill patients during 2 pH1N1 outbreaks. Methods Single-center, retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to the intensive care unit receiving oseltamivir for suspected influenza during 2 outbreak periods. Demographics and comorbidities were collected from the medical record. Outcomes included use of adjunct oxygenation therapies and oseltamivir dosing. Results One hundred twenty-four patients were included (2009, n = 53; 2013, n = 71). Demographics were as follows: mean (SD) age, 52.3 (14.2) years; mean (SD) Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, 19.4 (9.2); 71% had greater than or equal to 2 comorbidities; and mortality was 27%. Inhaled nitric oxide was administered more commonly in 2009 ( P = .01), whereas neuromuscular blockade ( P = .02) and epoprostenol were administered more commonly in 2013 ( P = .01). Patients in 2009 were more likely to receive high-dose oseltamivir ( P = .02; odds ratio, 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-6.62). No differences in clinical outcomes were observed between 2009 and 2013. Conclusions Use of adjunct oxygenation therapies and nontraditional antiviral dosing has changed significantly since the 2009 pandemic, although this has not resulted in a measurable impact on clinical outcomes.
Augmenting Mobile 3G with WiFi

We investigate if WiFi access can be used to augment 3G capacity in mobile environments. We first conduct a detailed study of 3G and WiFi access from moving vehicles, in three different cities. We find that the average 3G and WiFi availability across the cities is 87% and 11%, respectively. WiFi throughput is lower than 3G throughput, and WiFi loss rates are higher. We then design a system, called Wiffler, to augments mobile 3G capacity. It uses two key ideas leveraging delay tolerance and fast switching|to overcome the poor availability and performance of WiFi. For delay tolerant applications, Wiffler uses a simple model of the environment to predict WiFi connectivity. It uses these predictions to delays transfers to offload more data on WiFi, but only if delaying reduces 3G usage and the transfers can be completed within the application’s tolerance threshold. For applications that are extremely sensitive to delay or loss (e.g., VoIP), Wiffler quickly switches to 3G if WiFi is unable to successfully transmit the packet within a small time window. We implement and deploy Wiffler in our vehicular testbed. Our experiments show that Wiffler significantly reduces 3G usage. For a realistic workload, the reduction is 45% for a delay tolerance of 60 seconds.
A novel method of optimizing patient- and family-centered care in the ICU.

BACKGROUNDPatient- and family-centered care permeates critical care where there are often multiple teams involved in management. A method of facilitating information sharing to support shared decision making is essential in appropriately rendering care.This study sought to determine whether incorpor
Effect of spatio-energy correlation in PCD due to charge sharing, scatter, and secondary photons

Charge sharing, scatter and fluorescence events in a photon counting detector (PCD) can result in multiple counting of a single incident photon in neighboring pixels. This causes energy distortion and correlation of data across energy bins in neighboring pixels (spatio-energy correlation). If a “macro-pixel” is formed by combining multiple small pixels, it will exhibit correlations across its energy bins. Charge sharing and fluorescence escape are dependent on pixel size and detector material. Accurately modeling these effects can be crucial for detector design and for model based imaging applications. This study derives a correlation model for the multi-counting events and investigates the effect in virtual non-contrast and effective monoenergetic imaging. Three versions of 1 mm2 square CdTe macro-pixel were compared: a 4×4 grid, 2×2 grid, or 1×1 composed of pixels with side length 250 μm, 500 μm, or 1 mm, respectively. The same flux was applied to each pixel, and pulse pile-up was ignored. The mean and covariance matrix of measured photon counts is derived analytically using pre-computed spatio-energy response functions (SERF) estimated from Monte Carlo simulations. Based on the Cramer-Rao Lower Bound, a macro-pixel with 250×250 μm2 sub-pixels shows ~2.2 times worse variance than a single 1 mm2 pixel for spectral imaging, while its penalty for effective monoenergetic imaging is <10% compared to a single 1 mm2 pixel.
Hydromechanical Aspects of Fish Swimming

The swimming motions of large aquatic animals are fascinating to behold. Their impressive performance is too difficult for human beings to emulate, either with our bodies or with our machines, and we can only marvel at the ability of these creatures in the sea to attain high maximum speeds, efficiency of transportation, or special maneuvering capabilities. With increasing interest hydrodynamicists have studied the interactions of these animals with their surrounding fluid medium, and we shall briefly review the recent progress in this quest. For simplicity we use the term ‘fish’ to describe both fish and cetaceans.
Financial Conflicts of Interest in Continuing Medical Education: Implications and Accountability.

n this era of major scientific advances and evolving models of care delivery and payment, physicians and other health care professionals struggle to remain current. Accredited continuing medical education (CME) activities are a key resource for providing credible and accessible information. However, serious concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of CME, from the perspectives of educational design as well as potential influence from commercial and other interests. As the profession of medicine strives to simultaneously balance the accessibility, cost, and quality of care, it is critical for CME activities to be focused on the best interests of patients and society rather than on constituencies whose priorities may be in conflict with the public good.
The Impact of National Culture on Social Capital Formation

Although national culture is a key contextual variable that is expected to impact relationship seeking behaviors of entrepreneurs, there is a dearth of studies that considers the effects of nationa...
The Road to HEAVEN Is Paved With Good Intentions: Transplanting Heads, Manipulating Selves, and Reassigning Genders

Xiaoping Ren and Sergio Canavero's article (Ren and Canavero 2017) expresses more frustration at the academic establishment than a strong defense of HEAVEN against scientific and ethical objections...
Inflammatory monocytes mediate control of acute alphavirus infection in mice

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Ross River virus (RRV) are mosquito-transmitted alphaviruses that cause debilitating acute and chronic musculoskeletal disease. Monocytes are implicated in the pathogenesis of these infections; however, their specific roles are not well defined. To investigate the role of inflammatory Ly6ChiCCR2+ monocytes in alphavirus pathogenesis, we used CCR2-DTR transgenic mice, enabling depletion of these cells by administration of diptheria toxin (DT). DT-treated CCR2-DTR mice displayed more severe disease following CHIKV and RRV infection and had fewer Ly6Chi monocytes and NK cells in circulation and muscle tissue compared with DT-treated WT mice. Furthermore, depletion of CCR2+ or Gr1+ cells, but not NK cells or neutrophils alone, restored virulence and increased viral loads in mice infected with an RRV strain encoding attenuating mutations in nsP1 to levels detected in monocyte-depleted mice infected with fully virulent RRV. Disease severity and viral loads also were increased in DT-treated CCR2-DTR+;Rag1-/- mice infected with the nsP1 mutant virus, confirming that these effects are independent of adaptive immunity. Monocytes and macrophages sorted from muscle tissue of RRV-infected mice were viral RNA positive and had elevated expression of Irf7, and co-culture of Ly6Chi monocytes with RRV-infected cells resulted in induction of type I IFN gene expression in monocytes that was Irf3;Irf7 and Mavs-dependent. Consistent with these data, viral loads of the attenuated nsP1 mutant virus were equivalent to those of WT RRV in Mavs-/- mice. Finally, reconstitution of Irf3-/-;Irf7-/- mice with CCR2-DTR bone marrow rescued mice from severe infection, and this effect was reversed by depletion of CCR2+ cells, indicating that CCR2+ hematopoietic cells are capable of inducing an antiviral response. Collectively, these data suggest that MAVS-dependent production of type I IFN by monocytes is critical for control of acute alphavirus infection and that determinants in nsP1, the viral RNA capping protein, counteract this response.
The Relationship Between Internal Teacher Profiles and the Quality of Teacher-Child Interactions in Prekindergarten

ABSTRACTThis study investigates the relationship between internal teacher profiles and pre-K teacher-child interaction quality in the pre-K classroom. Two questions were addressed: (1) What internal profiles exist for pre-kindergarten (pre-K) teachers? and (2) Do internal profiles relate to observed structural and process quality in the pre-K classroom? Questionnaire and observational data were collected for 437 teachers as part of the National Center for Early Development’s State Wide Early Education Programs study. Four stable internal teacher profiles were found for pre-K teachers: efficacious facilitators, efficacious authoritarian, inefficacious facilitators, and dispirited authoritarian. Efficacious facilitators provided greater emotional support, classroom management, quality interactions, and provisions for children. Implications are discussed in terms of the importance of understanding the large variability currently seen in early education quality.
Pattern of R&D Expenditure in the Indian Service Sector: A Firm-Level Analysis Since 1999

The study examines the behavior pattern of the Indian Service Firms in matters related to the research and development (R&D) expenditure since 1999. A Firm-Level Analysis was done using data from Centre for Monitoring of the Indian Economy, prowess database. With the advent of new services over time, many non-tradeable services have become increasingly tradeable henceforth, the exports of services have improved and surpassed the merchandise exports. Taking this backdrop in mind, the study examines the role of R&D in promoting service exports. Results conclude that the innovation activity performed by the Indian service firms were less than 10%. The majority of innovating service firms were found to be firms concentrated﻿ in﻿ trading, gas and distribution, electricity generation, business consultancy, ITES, computer software, and other miscellaneous services. Hence, the more technology led innovation requires to be done as the innovation propensity of the service firm has declined.
Rare Event Captured with Intracranial Pressure Monitor: Malignant Spike in Intracranial Pressure During Delayed Chest Closure in Heart-Transplant Patient with Ischemic Stroke.

Background Patients with open chest wounds, either related to trauma or cardiothoracic procedures, are subjected to significant physiologic alterations when undergoing chest wound closure. Sudden increased intrathoracic pressure at closure decreases venous return from the brain to the heart; consequently the total blood volume in the ridged skull increases, resulting in increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Patients with intact cerebrovascular autoregulation can compensate for these sudden changes by adjusting cerebral blood flow to maintain physiologic ICP. In cases where the autoregulatory mechanisms are compromised, such as stroke or trauma, the ICP can become pathologically elevated. If the patient does not have an ICP monitor, the spike in ICP can go unrecognized, compromising cerebral perfusion pressure and resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. Case Description Herein we describe a case of pathologic elevations in ICP captured with an ICP monitor at the time of chest wound closure in a patient with delayed chest wound closure after orthotopic heart transplant and comorbid embolic stroke. Conclusions This case report demonstrates the potential utility of ICP monitoring in patients with impaired cerebrovascular autoregulation with open and manipulated chest wounds from transplant or trauma.
Evaluating Educational Programs and Projects in the USA

The past forty years have witnessed a dramatic increase in the amount and variety of educational evaluation in the USA. Program and project evaluations in this country come in many shapes and sizes, as the following examples suggest: Near the end of a three-year project funded by a foundation grant that developed a critical thinking curriculum for gifted students, a building principal contacts an external evaluator to conduct a study of project outcomes. A federal grants administrator in a large urban school district collaborates with the district’s evaluation unit to compile mandated federal program data and prepare routine reports that are sent to the state department and ultimately to Washington, DC. A superintendent calls a program director into her office and orders an evaluation of an expensive and controversial new program. An evaluation consultant has a continuing contract with an education agency to study innovative programs as they develop, often traveling to sites in a number of states.
FURTHER REMARKS ON THE LIMITATIONS OF AMBIENT VAPORIZERS IN CONTINUOUS OPERATION

There are various problems associated with design and operation of Cryogenic - natural convection ambient air vaporizers. 1) Loss of capacity due to ice fouling; 2) high structural loadings resulting from very thick ice growth and 3) wide performance variations due to climate at the installation site. This note outlines each specific problem and presents limits of use for a typical 50°F average annual air temperature case.
Toward a General Theory of Self-Referent Behavior

In this final chapter, I present the outline of a theoretical framework within which the preceding more detailed chapters may be interpreted and which serves as a device for ordering the relevant results of current and future research. The outline places self-referent behaviors in social psychological context as playing mediating roles between social influences on the person and personal influences on social systems. In considering their mediating roles, each mode of self-referent response is viewed as the product of social psychological influences, including other modes of self-referent behaviors, and as having social psychological consequences, including effects on other modes of self-referent responses. Among these consequences, particularly as these are manifested in certain self-protective-self-enhancing responses, are influences on the functioning of the social systems in which the person participates.