cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
It's 10 a.m. Do you know where your documents are? The nature and scope of information retrieval problems in business

While research into theoretical models of information retrieval (IR), IR in libraries, and testing of search algorithms have been cornerstones of IR research for decades, there has been comparatively little research into the problems of IR in business. Because of the growing magnitude and urgency of these problems, it is important to assess them more completely. This paper is an essay that draws on interviews with over 40 people experiencing real-life retrieval problems to characterize better these problems in the context of the work their organizations perform.
Analysis of switched capacitive networks

An efficient method is presented for the exact analysis of networks containing capacitors, independent and dependent voltage sources, and switches. Both continuous and piecewise-constant arbitrary inputs are handled, and solutions are presented for both transient response and frequency response. The switching pattern can be periodic (with any number of subintervals per period) or nonperiodic. The formulation proposed can be efficiently implemented on the computer and provides for user convenience; only one network topology and the switching schedule must be specified (as opposed to specifying as many topologies as there are switch position combinations). The method is especially well suited for the analysis of the recently introduced switched capacitor filters and charge redistribution circuits.
Optimal filter analysis of energy-dependent pulse shapes and its application to TES detectors

Abstract We present a method for applying optimal filtering to data sets containing energy-dependent pulse shapes. This occurs frequently in transition edge sensors (TES) when dealing with signal energies that are close to the saturation point of the detector. Different filter templates are created which span the dynamic range desired for the TES. These filters are then used as templates to filter the data, using interpolation to bridge the gap between templates. The method has been demonstrated on our tungsten (W) TES. We present the latest results from heat-pulse data on a (125 μm ) 2 TES with resolutions of 3 eV FWHM at 42 eV and 4 eV FWHM at 1.42 keV with the same sensor demonstrating the wide band operation possible with this technique.
The graph reconstruction number

The reconstruction number of graph G is the minimum number of point-deleted subgraphs required in order to uniquely identify the original graph G. We list, based on computer calculations, the reconstruction number for all graphs with at most seven points. Some constructions and conjectures for graphs of higher order are given. the most striking statement is our concluding conjeture that almost all graphs have have reconstruction number three.
Characterization of some subgraphs of point-collinearity graphs of building geometries

Let B be a building over a type set I. Suppose [email protected]?I meets every connected component of the diagram of B and let (P,L) be the point-line truncation of the J-Grassmann geometry of B. We present a theorem that allows one to identify shadows of apartments of residues of B in the point-collinearity graph of (P,L). Also, other results related to shadows of apartments of residues and shadows of residues are presented, including a proof of the fact that the shadow of every residue of B is a convex subspace of (P,L).
DISTURBANCE AND STAND DYNAMICS IN PONDEROSA PINE FORESTS IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, USA

Fire is thought to be the dominant disturbance agent in pure ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws.) forests, but fire severity and disturbances other than fire, and the effects of these events over time, have rarely been analyzed. We first created systematic criteria to (1) identify the causes of tree regeneration and mortality events and (2) classify the severity of these events. These criteria were then applied to understand the effect of events on ponderosa pine forests in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), Colorado. For each of nine intensive study plots sampled in the pure ponderosa pine zone of RMNP, we mapped and dated live and dead trees and the spatial extent of fire and non- fire events using dendrochronology. Events were identified using evidence of disturbance agents, such as blue-stain fungus in the case of mountain pine beetles, fire scars, and climatic reconstructions. Disturbance severity was classified based on amounts and spatial distri- bution of regeneration, mortality, and survivors. We studied the temporal and spatial re- lationships between events and tree age structures to determine historical and contemporary stand dynamics. We identified 103 events among the nine study plots; 97% of these events were fire. High-severity events were 7% of events, 2% of events were mixed-severity, and the other 70% were low-severity. The severity of 20% of events could not be determined. All but one of the high-severity events were fire. In seven plots, at least one crown fire occurred within the last 300 years. In RMNP, pre-EuroAmerican settlement crown fires led to dense, even-aged stands. Subsequent surface fires killed some trees and facilitated the regeneration of others, leading to less dense, uneven-aged stands after ;200-300 years. Climate may be the cause or co-cause of one or two regeneration pulses within the last 300 years, but most regeneration and mortality is associated with fire. The historical occurrence of crown fires, as well as surface fires, in pure ponderosa pine forests in RMNP indicates that the fire regime is more variable than previously thought. Suppression of crown fires, though not completely possible, would move the fire regime outside its historical range of natural variability.
Enhanced platelet activity and thrombosis in a murine model of type I diabetes are partially insulin-like growth factor 1-dependent and phosphoinositide 3-kinase-dependent

Summary Objectives To determine whether dysregulation of platelet signaling mechanisms contributes to the increased risk of thrombosis associated with diabetes, using a type I diabetes mouse model. Methods and Results Type I diabetes was induced in C57Bl6 mice following streptozotocin injection. Arterial thrombosis, platelet signaling and function were assessed 4 weeks later in comparison with non-diabetic control mice. Fifty-seven per cent of diabetic mice (glucose level of > 250 mg dL−1) developed stable occlusive thrombi after FeCl3 injury, as compared with 5% of their non-diabetic counterparts, suggesting that diabetic mice are more sensitive to arterial injury (P ≤ 0.02). Platelets from diabetic mice were more sensitive to protease-activated receptor 4 (PAR4) agonist-induced fibrinogen binding than platelets from non-diabetic mice, and the average Akt phosphorylation induced by PAR4 agonist peptide was greater (P ≤ 0.01) in platelets from diabetic mice. Recent studies suggest that insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) potentiates Akt phosphorylation in platelets. To determine whether IGF-1 signaling contributes to the increase in PAR4 sensitivity in platelets from diabetic mice, platelet signaling and function were evaluated in the presence of inhibitors of the IGF-1 receptor. IGF-1 receptor inhibition reduced Akt phosphorylation and fibrinogen binding in platelets from diabetic mice to levels consistent with those seen in normoglycemic platelets, but had no significant effect on platelets from non-diabetic mice. Conclusions The results suggest that platelets from mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes show enhanced platelet Akt phosphorylation and activity resulting from IGF-1-dependent mechanisms. Increases in platelet Akt activation may explain the enhanced sensitivity to thrombotic insult seen in diabetic mice.
Comparison of ibuprofen, cyclobenzaprine or both in patients with acute cervical strain: a randomized controlled trial

Objective: We compared pain severity and time to resumption of activities in patients with cervical strains treated with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), a centrally acting muscle relaxant or both. Methods: We performed a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial of adults with cervical strains from motor vehicle collisions or from falls who presented to a suburban academic emergency department (ED). Patients were randomly assigned to receive ibuprofen 800 mg, cyclobenzaprine 5 mg or both, 3 times daily as needed for up to 7 days. Outcome measures included a pain score on a 100-mm visual analog scale, pain relief scores, the time to resumption of normal activities, the use of rescue medications, and adverse outcomes. We used repeated-measures analysis of variance to compare pain relief over time. Our sample size of 20 patients in each group had a power of 80% to detect a difference of 15 mm in pain relief scores between the highest and lowest groups. Results: We randomly assigned 61 patients to receive ibuprofen (n = 20), cyclobenzaprine (n = 21) or both (n = 20). Mean (standard deviation) age was 34 (11) years; 58% were women and 72% were white. Although pain scores improved over time in all groups, there were no significant differences between the groups in any of the outcome measures. The rate of adverse events was also similar between groups. Conclusion: Our study suggests that there is little benefit to routinely using or adding cyclobenzaprine to NSAIDs for ED patients with acute cervical strain.
Eutrophication-induced phosphorus limitation in the Mississippi River plume : Evidence from fast repetition rate fluorometry

We assessed nutrient limitation in the Mississippi River plume and Louisiana continental shelf during the summer of 2002 (04–08 July). We measured nutrient concentrations, alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities, chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentrations, and four fast repetition rate fluorescence (FRRF) parameters: the maximum quantum yield of photochemistry in photosystem II (PSII), Fv :F m; the functional absorption cross section for PSII, sPSII; the time for photosynthetic electron transport on the acceptor side of PSII, tQa; and the connectivity factor, p, in 24-h-long nutrient addition bioassays near the Mississippi River delta. Low phosphorus (P) concentrations, elevated inorganic nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratios, high AP activities, and Chl a increases in response to P additions in the bioassays all indicated phosphorus limitation that was confirmed by the response of FRRF parameters. This is the first study to use FRRF to confirm results from basic oceanographic methods to demonstrate phosphorus limitation in a marine setting. Fv :F m and p responded positively to phosphorus addition, while sPSII and tQa decreased in the same treatments. When nitrate alone was added, none of the measured parameters differed significantly from the control. We therefore suggest that FRRF can be used to rapidly detect phosphorus limitation in marine ecosystems.
Skin and needle hygiene intervention for injection drug users: Results from a randomized, controlled Stage I pilot trial

A new skin and needle hygiene intervention, designed to reduce high-risk injection practices associated with bacterial and viral infections, was tested in a pilot, randomized controlled trial. Participants included 48 active heroin injectors recruited through street outreach and randomized to either a 2-session intervention or an assessment-only condition (AO) and followed up for 6 months. The primary outcome was skin- and needle-cleaning behavioral skills measured by videotaped demonstration. Secondary outcomes were high-risk injection practices, intramuscular injection, and bacterial infections. Intervention participants had greater improvements on the skin (d = 1.00) and needle-cleaning demonstrations (d = .52) and larger reductions in high-risk injection practices (d = .32) and intramuscular injection (d = .29), with a lower incidence rate of bacterial infections (hazard ratio = .80), at 6 months compared with AO. The new intervention appears feasible and promising as a brief intervention to reduce bacterial and viral risks associated with drug injection.
An Algorithm That Identifies Coronary and Heart Failure Events In The Electronic Health Record

The advent of universal health care coverage in the United States and electronic health records could make the medical record a valuable disease surveillance tool. The object of this project was to identify an algorithm that accurately categorizes acute coronary and heart failure events exclusively with electronic health record data so that the medical record can be used for surveillance without manual record review. Agreement (Cohen - Kappa) between manual review and an algorithm that uses IMO statements, troponin levels and echocardiographic data is 0.99 (95%CI 0.98-1.00). We conclude that surveillance based on electronic data alone is feasible.
Positive definite matrices and Sylvester's criterion

(1991). Positive Definite Matrices and Sylvester's Criterion. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 98, No. 1, pp. 44-46.
Advances in the Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure: New Approaches for an Old Disease

Heart failure is a symptom complex of varied etiology associated with substantial mortality. Approximately 5 million Americans have the disease, with 400,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Despite better understanding of its pathophysiology, therapeutic options remain suboptimal and the syndrome remains associated with high rates of hospitalization and loss of economic productivity. Management traditionally included vasodilators, diuretics, and digoxin, with a focus on controlling symptoms and improving ejection fraction and exercise capacity. Drug therapy now is focused on improving survival, with a reduction in health care costs related to hospitalizations. Drugs with a proven benefit in reducing morbidity and mortality are angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta-blockers, and the combination of hydralazine plus a nitrate. Diuretics, digoxin, dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, catecholamine infusions, amiodarone, left ventricular assist devices, and transplantation are also options.
On Postglacial Sea Level

Summary An exact method is presented for calculating the changes in sea level that occur when ice and water masses are rearranged on the surface of elastic and viscoelastic non-rotating Earth models. The method is used to calculate the instantaneous elastic and delayed vi scoelastic sea level changes following the partial melting of late Quaternary ice sheets. We find that there can be large errors in the usual assumption that changes in sea level are uniform over the ocean basins. If a quantity of ice equivalent to a uniform 100-m rise in sea level melts from the Laurentide and Fennoscandian ice sheets, then in the South Pacific the instantaneous rise in sea level can be as large as 120m. In the North Atlantic the instantaneous rise is always less than 100 m. There is a zone in the North Atlantic with almost no sea level change and near Greenland and Norway the sea level falls, rather than rises, by over 100 m. One thousand years after the melting a forebulge migrating towards the ice loads causes water to flow from the South Pacific into the North Pacific suggesting that raised beaches should occur in the South Pacific. The gravitational attraction of an ice mass upon a nearby ocean tends to hold sea level high in the vicinity of the ice. This extra load near the ice may have a significant influence on postglacial isostatic adjustment.
Agro-ecoregionalization of Iowa using multivariate geographical clustering

Agro-ecoregionalization is categorization of landscapes for use in crop suitability analysis, strategic agroeconomic development, risk analysis, and other purposes. Past agro-ecoregionalizations have been subjective, expert opinion driven, crop specific, and unsuitable for statistical extrapolation. Use of quantitative analytical methods provides an opportunity for delineation of agro-ecoregions in a more objective and reproducible manner, and with use of generalized crop-related environmental inputs offers an opportunity for delineation of regions with broader application. For this study, raster (cell-based) environmental data at 1 km scale were used in a multivariate geographic clustering process to delineate agroecozones. Environmental parameters included climatic, edaphic and topographic characteristics hypothesized to be generally relevant to many crops. Clustering was performed using five a priori grouping schemes of 5-25 agroecozones. Non-contiguous geographic zones were defined representing areas of similar crop-relevant environmental conditions. A red-green-blue color triplet was used for visualization of agroecozones as unique combinations of environmental factors. Concordance of the agroecozones with other widely used datasets was investigated using MapCurves, a quantitative goodness-of-fit method. The 5- and 25-agroecozone schemes had highest concordance with a map of major land resource areas and a map of major landform regions, with degree of fit judged to be good. The resulting agroecozones provide a framework for future rigorous hypothesis testing. Other applications include: quantitative evaluation of crop suitability at the landscape scale, environmental impact modeling and agricultural scenario building.
Validity of a Non-Speech Dynamic Assessment of Phonemic Awareness via the Alphabetic Principle

Most assessments of phonemic awareness require speech responses and cannot be used with individuals with severe speech impairments who may use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). This study investigated the reliability and construct validity of the Dynamic Assessment of Phonemic Awareness via the Alphabetic Principle (DAPA-AP), which does not require speech. In all, 17 adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities completed the DAPA-AP, a letter-sound knowledge task, four measures of phonological awareness, and two reading assessments. Results indicated the DAPA-AP was both a reliable and valid assessment of phonemic awareness for this sample. Consequently, the DAPA-AP represents an important step in developing phonemic awareness assessments that have the potential to be suitable for use with a wide range of individuals, including those with SSI.
Flow-induced prostaglandin E2 release regulates Na and K transport in the collecting duct

Fluid shear stress (FSS) is a critical regulator of cation transport in the collecting duct (CD). High-dietary sodium (Na) consumption increases urine flow, Na excretion, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2...
Complex fragments emitted in excited States

Abstract For complex fragment emission processes, the relative populations of excited states provide information about the intrinsic excitation of the emitting system and the degree of equilibration at the point of emission.
The radiobiology of intravascular irradiation

Abstract Purpose: There is increasing interest in the use of vascular irradation, from an internally introduced radioactive source to control restenosis after balloon angioplasty. Both animal experiments and early clinical studies appear to show promising results in this regard. We consider various mechanistic interpretations of the experimental and clinical observations that doses of 12–20 Gy appear to be efficacious in preventing restenosis. We develop and investigate simple models, both experimental and theoretical, of the kinetics of radiation-induced smooth muscle cell (SMC) inactivation and regrowth, as a first step toward optimizing the design of clinical vascular irradiation. Methods and Materials: Using in vitro models of human SMCs, we investigate the relative radiosensitivity of SMCs compared with endothelial cells and measure the dose-dependent ability of SMCs to repopulate a denuded region in a confluent layer of cells. We then use quantitative information on the number, radiation sensitivity, and growth rate of the potential arteral target cells to models the time course of the SMC population after irradiation. Results and Conclusion: Doses >20 Gy, which would be required to completely eliminate the SMC population which has the potential to cause restenosis, are too large to be practical because of the unacceptable risk of late complications. However, doses that can be practically given in vascular irradiation (
Estimating parameters of received UWB monocycles

This work assumes that local oscillators in individual transceivers are not identical. A difference in the drift of oscillator gives rise to a difference in pulse repetition rate between transmitter and receiver. This drift will be estimated in the paper. The performance of a proposed automated gain control (AGC) circuit to stabilize the gain of a time tracking loop is also investigated. Thus this work is on estimating the received signal amplitude, the initial offset and frame frequency differences between a pair of UWB impulse transceiver and the results will be useful for applications such as time transfer and synchronization.
2-D lattice discrete filters: minimal delay and state space realization

A circuit realization is presented for two-dimensional (2-D) lattice discrete filters. The number of delay elements is minimal. Based on this circuit realization, the corresponding state space realization is derived. The matrices A, b, c', and the scalar d of the 2-D state space model are presented in generalized form. The dimension of the 2-D state space vector is minimal, and the corresponding transfer function is characterized by the all-pass property.
Continued Antiplatelet Therapy and Risk of Bleeding in Gastrointestinal Procedures: A Systematic Review.

Background Management of perioperative antiplatelet medications in gastrointestinal (GI) surgery is challenging. The risk of intraoperative and postoperative bleeding is associated with perioperative use of antiplatelet medication. However, cessation of these drugs may be unsafe for patients who are required to maintain antiplatelet use due to cardiovascular conditions. The objective of this systematic review was to compare the risk of intraoperative or postoperative bleeding among patients who had GI surgery while on continuous antiplatelet therapy (aspirin, clopidogrel, or dual therapy) with the risk among those not taking continuous antiplatelet medication. Study Design We reviewed articles published between January 2000 and July 2015 from the Medline Ovid and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases. Studies involving any GI procedures were included if the articles met our inclusion criteria (listed in Methods). The following key words were used for the search: clopidogrel, Plavix, aspirin, antiplatelet, bleeding, hemorrhage , and digestive system surgical procedures . Quality of the studies was assessed, depending on their study design, using the Newcastle-Ottawa score or the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias. Results Twenty-two studies were eligible for inclusion in the systematic review. Five showed that the risk of intraoperative bleeding or postoperative bleeding among patients who had GI surgery while on continuous antiplatelet therapy was higher compared that for those not on continuous therapy. The remaining 17 studies reported that there was no statistically significant difference in the risks of bleeding between the continuous antiplatelet therapy group and the group without continuous antiplatelet therapy. Conclusions The risk of bleeding associated with GI procedures in patients receiving antiplatelet therapy was not significantly higher than in patients with no antiplatelet or interrupted antiplatelet therapy.
Financial effect of converting ipratropium–albuterol therapy from inhalers to nebulizer treatments at an academic health system

Purpose The results of a study to assess the financial impact of an automatic formulary substitution of ipratropium–albuterol nebulization solution for ipratropium–albuterol metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) at an academic health system are reported. Methods The study was conducted at a 1242-bed urban academic health system. Data were collected regarding all respiratory medication administrations during a three-month period before the MDI-to-nebulizer substitution (October–December 2012) and the same period of 2013 (after the substitution was implemented). Purchasing data were compared between the two time periods to measure the impact of the formulary substitution on pharmacy department costs, and documented administrations were assessed to evaluate associated changes in respiratory therapist (RT) workload. Results With 100% prescriber compliance with the formulary substitution, the number of MDI administrations of ipratropium–albuterol declined from 13,667 in October–December 2012 to zero in the same period of 2013. The substitution required expenditures for equipment (vibrating mesh nebulizer technology and patient-specific kits) and RT personnel (one additional RT was hired), but those added costs were substantially outweighed by cost savings resulting from a substantial reduction in overall respiratory drug spending. Conclusion An automatic substitution of ipratropium–albuterol nebulization solution for MDIs resulted in a three-month savings of $99,359 in drug cost and an extrapolated full-year savings of $397,436. When additional costs associated with the substitution were taken into account, there was an overall savings of $146,806 during the implementation year and a projected savings of $257,936 for each following year.
Toward an Open Transit Service Data Standard in Developing Asian Countries

To determine the viability of using transit service information databases that used the general transit feed specification (GTFS) as a low-cost first step toward addressing common transit system issues in developing countries, a team from the World Bank undertook GTFS pilot programs in Manila, Philippines; Haiphong, Vietnam; and Zhengzhou, China. These cities represented a diverse cross section of local conditions and challenges. Through these pilot activities, the World Bank team learned two things: (a) GTFS databases did have the potential to help developing cities overcome, for the first time, challenges that they faced for many years and (b) GTFS databases were very difficult to establish and maintain in developing countries. To support practitioners seeking to undertake GTFS programs in developing countries, this paper walks readers through the steps undertaken to design and implement the pilot activities, citing both successes and specific lessons learned throughout.
Hydration and early-age expansion of calcium sulfoaluminate cement-based binders: experiments and thermodynamic modeling

Calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cements have been shown to have lower carbon footprint than that of Portland cement. In addition, the expansive nature of CSA-based cement can be utilized to enhance the resistance against shrinkage cracking by inducing compressive stress in concrete. The current paper reports the hydration and early-age volume changes of three OPC-CSA binary cement systems with varying CSA content. Hydration and phase development was monitored through calorimetry and quantitative X-ray diffraction. Expansion characteristics of OPC-CSA blends were monitored in saturated lime water. A geochemical modeling program (GEMS-PSI) was used to estimate the saturation levels of ettringite which had strong correlation with 1 day-expansion. The volume fraction of ettringite in a given pore volume was found to have a stronger correlation with expansion of OPC-CSA blends than the ettringite content. Furthermore, a poromechanical model was used for estimating the tensile stress in OPC-CSA blends.
Improving the Measurement and Analysis of Gigabit Broadband Networks

Measurements of broadband performance are important for consumers, ISPs, edge providers, and regulators to make informed decisions regarding the choice, design, and regulation of broadband services that are increasingly regarded as essential basic infrastructure. Bauer, Lehr, and Hung (2015) explained how the shift to very high-speed broadband access services poses a challenge for managing end-user performance expectations and for regulatory policy. In this paper, we focus on the measurement challenges, examining existing broadband tests which were designed in a world of lower speed services (10s of Mbps) for their suitability and accuracy when access speeds are measured in the 100Mbps to 1 Gbps. Our analysis highlights the large variability and systematic biases in results depending on which of the many common tests are used. We explain why this variability is observed and offer thoughts on how the measurement infrastructure should be improved in light of the increased availability and use of superfast broadband.
Genetic Variance and Covariance of the Components of Hatchability in New Hampshires

Abstract SINCE the early work of Pearl and Surface (1909), a great many studies have been made to determine the extent to which fertility and hatch of fertile eggs are controlled by heredity. Fertility must be considered a property of the parents only, since the trait being studied is no longer fertility once the gametes have united (Bernier, Taylor and Gunns, 1951). However, it has long been felt (Warren, 1927–28; Axelsson, 1932) that hatch of fertile eggs is a compound trait made up of two components. The first is the ability of the embryo to survive, and the second is the contribution of the dam to the extra-embryonic portion of the egg, which provides the milieu for embryonic development. Both embryonic viability and extra-embryonic maternal effects may be considered to have certain heritabilities which combine to make up the heritability of hatch of fertile eggs (Abplanalp and Kosin, 1953). This …
Recurrent Seedling and Individual-plant selection for Potato Leafhopper (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) Resistance in Alfalfa

Five alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., populations were subjected to various cycles of recurrent phenotypic seedling and individual-plant selection for potato leafhopper (PLH), Empoasca fabae (Harris), resistance in growth-chamber tests. No-choice feeding-damage tests of individual plant selections, seedling comparison tests, and field tests indicated that PLH resistance in selected alfalfa populations could be increased after two cycles of seedling selection. Significantly greater progress was made when seedling selection was followed by individual-plant selection. Three of the five alfalfa populations tested contained possible sources of PLH resistance. Our results indicated that seedling and individual plant selection in an artificial environment may be an important and effective part of a program to develop PLH-resistant germplasm.
Highways of the emotional intellect: white matter microstructural correlates of an ability-based measure of emotional intelligence

Individuals differ in their ability to understand emotional information and apply that understanding to make decisions and solve problems effectively - a construct known as Emotional Intelligence (EI). While considerable evidence supports the importance of EI in social and occupational functioning, the neural underpinnings of this capacity are relatively unexplored. We used Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) to determine the white matter correlates of EI as measured by the ability-based Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). Participants included 32 healthy adults (16 men; 16 women), aged 18-45 years. White matter integrity in key tracts was positively correlated with the Strategic Area branches of the MSCEIT (Understanding Emotions and Managing Emotions), but not the Experiential branches (Perceiving and Facilitating Emotions). Specifically, the Understanding Emotions branch was associated with greater fractional anisotropy (FA) within somatosensory and sensory-motor fiber bundles, particularly those of the left superior longitudinal fasciculus and corticospinal tract. Managing Emotions was associated with greater FA within frontal-affective association tracts including the anterior forceps and right uncinate fasciculus, along with frontal-parietal cingulum and interhemispheric corpus callosum tracts. These findings suggest that specific components of EI are directly related to the structural microarchitecture of major axonal pathways.
CFD Numerical Calculation of Sudden-expansion Pipe Flow of Low Reynolds Number

The flow due to sudden boundary expansion is a common phenomenon of flow in pipeline transpiration engineering.The geometric models of the sudden-expansion pipe of the low Reynolds number are established in the VR of CFD software PHOENICS in a cylindrical coordinate.The flow field of Newtonian fluid laminar flow in the sudden-expansion pipe is simulated with orthogonal grids,and the results are processed with the Origin post-processing software.Finally analyzed is the distribution of the flow field of the pipe sudden-expansion reflux on the velocity and pressure.The results reflect an essential characteristic of sudden-expansion pipe flow and provide a theoretical foundation for solving the common problem in petroleum production.
Mechanisms of antinuclear antibody production in the rheumatic diseases.

SUMMARY Recent investigations on the mechanisms of ANA production in the rheumatic diseases suggest that these responses frequently emerge in the setting of nonspecific immunoregulatory disturbances. However, the expansion and maturation of these responses to generate pathogenic specificities may require the coexistence of clonal or antigen-specific abnormalities. At the genetic level, ANAs appear to be of diverse origin, including some with representation in the normal B cell repertoire. Since some ANAs are disease-specific, elucidation of the basis of their production should provide insights into the unique pathogenetic features of different rheumatic diseases.
Articulate: Creating Meaningful Visualizations from Natural Language

While many visualization tools exist that offer sophisticated functions for charting complex data, they still expect users to possess a high degree of expertise in wielding the tools to create an effective visualization. Unfortunately the users of such tools are often lay people or domain experts with marginal knowledge of graphic design and visualization techniques. When exploring data, they typically know what questions they want to ask, but often do not know, or do not have the time to learn, how to express these questions in a form that is suitable for a given visualization tool. To facilitate the use of the advanced visualization tools, I propose an automated visualization framework: Articulate. The goal is to provide a streamlined experience to non-expert users, allowing them to focus on using the visualizations effectively to generate new findings. Articulate, is an approach toward enabling non-visualization experts to leverage advanced visualization techniques through the use of natural language as the primary interface for crafting visualizations. The main challenge in this research is in determining how to translate imprecise verbal queries into precise and meaningful visualizations. While the initial prototype focuses on producing information visualizations, it will also be demonstrated how the approach can be applied to scientific domain as well as the details of the user studies that validate the approach.
On the Use of Canonical Correlation Analysis in Testing Common Trends

Motivated by the asymptotic uncorrelatedness between the stationary and nonstationary components of a vector time series, a statistic is constructed from the canonical correlations of these components to test for the number of common trends and, hence, the presence of co-integration. For univariate series, such a test statistic possesses direct relationships with the classical Dickey-Fuller test. An iterative testing procedure is then proposed which can handle unit roots of higher multiplicities as well as seasonal co-integrations. In applications, both bootstrap and simulation are used to obtain the empirical critical values of the test statistic. The proposed procedure is illustrated by two real examples.
Effects of Red Meat Diet Restriction on Multiple Sclerosis Severity (P1.404)

Objective: To investigate the association between red meat restriction in diet and disease severity in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Background: Multiple genetic and environmental factors have been suggested to play a role in pathophysiology of MS. There is evidence that some nutritional elements, present in animal-derived products, can stimulate chronic inflammation and increase the risk of MS. Design/Methods: Data from MS patients enrolled in Comprehensive Longitudinal Investigation of Multiple Sclerosis at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (CLIMB) study who completed a questionnaire on dietary habits throughout their lives were included. Using a multiple linear regression model, MS severity scale (MSSS) at the time of questionnaire was compared between patients who had a diet restriction (n=70) and patients who never had any diet restriction (n=122). We ran the same analysis between the groups who reported red meat diet restriction (n=34) and never restricted red meat group (n=122). Furthermore, the number of relapses were compared via a Wilcoxon signed-rank test in patients who reported information on their restriction start dates (n=15) via the following intervals: 2 years prior and after the self-reported red meat restriction age. Results: The majority of patients in both groups were older, relapsing-remitting MS female patients with a BMI classified as overweight (BMI > 25.0). There was no significant difference in log-transformed MSSS between patients who had a diet restriction and patients who never had a diet restriction (mean difference= -0.15, 95[percnt]CI=(-0.51,0.21); p=0.42). This difference was also not significant for red meat restricted diet patients compared to the patients who never restricted red meat (mean difference=0.15, 95[percnt]CI=(-0.33,0.62); p=0.55). Red-meat restriction did not significantly affect number of attacks in the periods of 2-years before compared to 2-years after start of a diet (p=0.94). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that red-meat diet restriction has no significant effect on disease severity. Disclosure: Dr. Sattarnezhad has received research support from Merck Serono. Dr. Caron has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chua has nothing to disclose. Dr. Healy has received research support from Merck Serono, Novartis and Genzyme. Dr. Cook has received research support from Merck Serono and Biogen Idec. Dr. Tankou has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kaplan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Diaz-Cruz has received research support from Merck Serono. Dr. Glanz has received research support from Merck Serono. Dr. Weiner has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chitnis has received personal compensation for activities with Novartis and Biogen. Dr. Chitnis has received research support from Merck-Serono and Novartis Pharmaceuticals.
God Versus Party: Competing Effects on Attitudes Concerning Criminal Punishment, National Security, and Military Service

We explore how images of God interact with political party to predict attitudes concerning the appropriate role of government in both criminal punishment and national security. Using the second wave of the Baylor Religion Survey (2007), we analyze the extent to which beliefs regarding God's moral judgment moderate the influence of party affiliation on opinions about the death penalty, fighting terrorism, punishing criminals, serving in the military, and U.S. involvement in the Iraq War. Specifically, we find that Democrats who believe in a judgmental God tend to support more conservative policies. In fact, attitudes converge such that the effects of party membership are erased if rival partisans both believe in a judgmental moral authority.
Anatomic Predictors of Unruptured Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm Growth.

Objective Anatomic variations of the anterior communicating artery (ACOM) complex have been shown to influence ACOM aneurysm morphology. It is not known whether these variations predispose unruptured ACOM aneurysms to grow over time. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the course of patients with untreated, unruptured ACOM aneurysms monitored with serial imaging at our institution. The primary outcome of interest was aneurysm growth. Predictors of aneurysm growth were determined using a Cox proportional hazards model. Results There were 81 patients with an unruptured ACOM aneurysm who were included in our study. Growth occurred in 9 (11.1%) patients, yielding a yearly growth rate of 2.8%. Aneurysms that grew were larger on initial detection than were those that remained stable in size (8.3 mm vs. 6.2 mm; P = 0.031). The ratio of the diameter of A1 segments was greater in patients with aneurysms that grew (2.1 vs. 1.4; P = 0.003), as was the frequency of patients with an A1 ratio >2.3 (25.0% vs. 6.6%; P = 0.023). Among aneurysms that grew, location at the A1–A2 junction was more common than origination solely from the ACOM (88.9% vs. 11.1%). When follow-up time was adjusted for, increasing aneurysm size (unit relative risk [RR] 1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06–1.45; P = 0.011) and location at the A1–A2 junction (RR 6.15, 95% CI 1.12–114.49; P = 0.035) were significant predictors of aneurysm growth. Conclusions We identify several anatomic characteristics that may be associated with increased risk of ACOM aneurysm growth. These data could influence management strategies of unruptured ACOM aneurysms.
3D non-rigid registration using surface and local salient features for transrectal ultrasound image-guided prostate biopsy

We present a 3D non-rigid registration algorithm for the potential use in combining PET/CT and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) images for targeted prostate biopsy. Our registration is a hybrid approach that simultaneously optimizes the similarities from point-based registration and volume matching methods. The 3D registration is obtained by minimizing the distances of corresponding points at the surface and within the prostate and by maximizing the overlap ratio of the bladder neck on both images. The hybrid approach not only capture deformation at the prostate surface and internal landmarks but also the deformation at the bladder neck regions. The registration uses a soft assignment and deterministic annealing process. The correspondences are iteratively established in a fuzzy-to-deterministic approach. B-splines are used to generate a smooth non-rigid spatial transformation. In this study, we tested our registration with pre- and postbiopsy TRUS images of the same patients. Registration accuracy is evaluated using manual defined anatomic landmarks, i.e. calcification. The root-mean-squared (RMS) of the difference image between the reference and floating images was decreased by 62.6±9.1% after registration. The mean target registration error (TRE) was 0.88±0.16 mm, i.e. less than 3 voxels with a voxel size of 0.38×0.38×0.38 mm3 for all five patients. The experimental results demonstrate the robustness and accuracy of the 3D non-rigid registration algorithm.
Gastrostomy Tube Replacement

A gastrostomy tube (G-tube) is indicated for long-term enteral nutritional support in patients with dysphagia secondary to various disorders. Endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement is now the preferred modality over surgical gastrostomy owing to a less invasive nature and faster time to start feeding. During endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement, a small incision is made over the anterior abdominal wall through which the tube is placed via a push method (the tube inserted percutaneously through the incision) or a pull technique (the tube is pulled out from the stomach through the incision). Once the tube is placed, a fistulous gastrocutaneous tract is formed in about 2-4 weeks. However, in certain conditions such as severe malnutrition, immunocompromised patients, and large ascites, tract maturity is further delayed. If a percutaneous gastrostomy endoscopic (PEG) tube is dislodged within a month after placement, then endoscopic replacement is recommended. However, if the tube is dislodged after 4 to 6 weeks when tract maturity is expected, bedside replacement is usually sufficient. If the tube is dislodged within 4 weeks of initial placement, patients are at significant risk of peritonitis and perforation due to peritoneal spillage of gastric contents through the immature track, and replacement should not be attempted without surgical consultation. A blind attempt to re-insert the tube or even foley placement in an immature tract can lead to inadvertent placement of the tube into the peritoneal cavity. In this review article, we discuss the replacement of the Gastrostomy tube in adult patients with complete maturation of the gastrocutaneous tract.
Elemental composition, water, and total lipid content in peripheral nerves, spinal cord and brain of healthy adult dogs.

Peripheral nerves, spinal cord, and brain of healthy adult dogs were analysed biochemically for sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, iron, aluminium, silicon, total chloride, total tissue water and total lipid content. Flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used for elemental quantitation of the hydrochloric acid tissue extracts. Cerebrum and spinal cord had similar values for all parameters measured. Total sodium values were higher in nerves compared to central nervous system ( cns ) (brain and spinal cord), while respective values for potassium were lower. Tissue levels of calcium, iron and silicon were comparable in brain, spinal cord and nerves. However, magnesium concentrations were two to three times higher in cns than in nerves; and the reverse was true for aluminium levels. Tissue concentrations of zinc and copper were marginally higher in cns than in nerves.
Solution of Linear Systems

One of the most common problems in numerical computing is to solve the linear system $$\displaystyle{Ax = b;}$$ that is, for given A and b, to find x such that the equation holds. The system is said to be consistent if there exists such an x, and in that case a solution x may be written as A−b, where A− is some inverse of A. If A is square and of full rank, we can write the solution as A−1b.
Pick your trade-offs wisely: Predator-prey eco-evo dynamics are qualitatively different under different trade-offs

Abstract In recent decades, myriad studies have explored the population dynamics of coevolving populations of predator and prey. A variety of choices are made in these models: exponential or logistic prey growth in the absence of a predator, various forms of predator functional response, and uni- or bi-directional trait axes. In addition, some form of trade-offs are assumed in order to prevent run-away evolution of the prey and predator traits. While there is a considerable amount of theory regarding various forms of prey growth rates and predator functional responses, only a few studies have explored how different types of trade-offs affect predator-prey dynamics. Here, we compared two ditrophic coevolution models incorporating different trade-offs via dual effects of the prey trait on attack rate and either prey carrying capacity or intrinsic growth rate. We employed a standard dynamical systems approach to analyze the equilibrium conditions of each model and find conditions for non-equilibrium oscillatory coexistence. The exact effect of various parameters on the outcome of predator-prey interactions depends on whether the trade-offs affect the intrinsic growth rate or carrying capacity. In particular, coexistence is more likely when prey growth rate is affected by the evolving trait. In addition, in parameter regimes where cycles occur in both models, oscillations typically have larger periods and amplitudes when prey growth rate is affected by the evolving trait.
Catholic Heritage, Ethno-Racial Self-Identification, and Prejudice Against Haitians in the Dominican Republic

Latin American cultures are significantly influenced by Catholicism, which partially but meaningfully represents the European legacy that situates Latin American societies into the Western world. T...