cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relative discriminability of visually-presented letter pairs using a same-different choice-reaction time task

Twenty-three pairs of capital letters representing the four combinations of high and low visual and auditory similarity, and 17 pairs of identical letters were used as stimuli in a same-different choice-reaction time task. Eight Ss (four of each sex) performed on 780 discrimination trials. Results indicated that same-different judgments were made essentially on the basis of visual characteristics, with letter pairs of high visual similarity having slower RTs than pairs of low visual similarity. Left-to-right order of letters in a pair had no effect, nor did auditory similarity. "Same" judgments had a more restricted range of RT and tended to be slower than "different" judgments.
Density of states of Cs3Sb calculated using density-functional theory for modeling photoemission

An analysis is presented that provides a density of states (DOS or D ( E )) factor for Cs 3 Sb in the calculation of its quantum efficiency QE and emittance e n;rms using a Moments Approach. The analysis is based on density functional theory (DFT) adapted for the practical application of treating photoemission from bulk metal and semiconductor materials, and the interfaces between them. The Moments approach treats the processes of absorption, transmission and emission separately, for which DFT affects parameters and processes associated with each step, of which D , the optical constants n and k , and materials parameters such as effective mass m n and band gap E g are paramount. Such factors are required to provide the components of an evaluation similar to the Tsu-Esaki formula for calculating current density over and through and over barriers, and will become more important when a proper quantum mechanical treatment of the emission barrier is considered beyond the simplistic thermal model (transmission probability is unity only for energy levels in excess of the barrier height and zero otherwise). Such features are expected to be far more consequential if the barrier supports resonant levels, e.g., heterostructures.
Economic solutions to improve cybersecurity of governments and smart cities via vulnerability markets

Abstract Cities are becoming smarter and smarter. While the rapid progress in smart city technologies is changing cities and the lifestyle of the people, it creates also huge attack surfaces for potential cyber attacks. The potential vulnerabilities of smart city products and imminent attacks on smart city infrastructure and services will have significant consequences that can cause substantial economic and noneconomic losses, even chaos, to the cities and the people. In this paper we study alternative economic solutions ranging from incentive mechanisms to market-based solutions to motivate governments, smart product vendors, and vulnerability researchers and finders to improve the cybersecurity of smart cities and e-government. These solutions can be integrated into policy instruments in defending smart cities and e-governments against cyber attacks.
E-cigarette use, dual use of e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes, and frequency of cannabis use among high school students.

Abstract Background The proliferation of electronic vaping products raises many concerns, including whether these products will lead to risky behaviors among adolescents. Evidence suggests that e-cigarettes may be used to vaporize cannabis (marijuana). The current study examined associations between e-cigarette use, dual use of e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes, and frequency of cannabis use. Methods Data on high school students (grades 9–12) were from the 2014–2015 Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey (n = 23,429 respondents). Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to examine frequency of cannabis use among those who reported using only e-cigarettes, only tobacco cigarettes, both products, and nonusers. Results Approximately 15% of respondents reported using cannabis at least once in the past month. Likelihood of using cannabis was significantly higher for e-cigarette only and cigarette- only users. Users of both products had increased odds for a higher frequency of cannabis use. These results indicated a sequential risk gradient in the use of cannabis for dual use, cigarette only, e-cigarette only, and non-use groups, respectively. Conclusions Youth who reported use of e-cigarettes, tobacco cigarettes, and both products showed a heightened risk of using cannabis more frequently.
Special Section Guest Editorial: Radiomics and Deep Learning

This guest editorial introduces and summarizes the JMI Special Section on Radiomics and Deep Learning.
Crime and Punishment: A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Firm Misconduct on Market Valuation

Scholars along multiple disciplines have published about two hundred empirical articles in the last 30+ years on the relationship between corporate misconduct and market valuation. Based on a closer review of the extant literature and a screening of eligible studies, we perform a meta-analysis on 64 effect sizes obtained from 58 studies to synthesize the results across contexts and draw conclusions about how contextual and operational factors affect variation in misconduct’s effect on firm valuation. Our results offer much needed integration to corporate misconduct research and suggest advancements to the literature in this interdisciplinary domain.
Cameroon’s Western Region: Environmental Disaster in the Making?

Cameroon’s Western Region is a beautiful, but small and most densely populated region in the country. The evolving environmental tensions building up in the region are little discussed, but a mixture of state economic policies or lack thereof, private sector business activities, and the broader economic activities have tended to condition life and tensions in the region. The region’s high population density and the small geographic space that forms the basis of economic activities for more than 90% of the population is turning the region into an emerging environmental bombshell waiting to explode. Yet, most of the environmental discussions and policies in Cameroon tend to focus more on the forest ecosystems of the country (in the greater South), the Northern Drylands, Parks, and Animal Reserves, and the polluted mega urban cities of Douala and Yaounde. I discuss the neglected environmental challenges of Cameroon’s grasslands ecosystem of the Western Region, the nature of the challenges, why there has been very little focus on it, what needs to be done and how to address them. (174)
Decentralized Supply Chain Planning for Two Classified Supply Chains

In this chapter, we introduce two types of supply chains that consist of an independent manufacturer and an independent distributor and decentralized supply chain planning models for them. Those supply chains are based on a decentralized planning environment where the manufacturer and the distributor collaborate with each other without disclosing their private information. Although collaboration with other supply chain participants is indispensable for survival in the supply chain, available information for sharing tends to be limited to preserve independent competitive power. In line with this changing environment, two types of supply chains are defined and investigated with focus on their frameworks. Also, decentralized supply chain planning models for two proposed supply chains are discussed. A brief numerical example is employed to illustrate the potential use of the proposed models. Finally, some issues concerning implementation of the proposed decentralized supply chain planning models are discussed.
Surgical approach does not affect deep infection rate after primary total hip arthroplasty

Background:There is a concern for higher rates of wound complications and a potentially increased periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) risk after total hip arthroplasty (THA) with the direct anteri...
The price puzzle revisited

This paper addresses the price puzzle that contractionary monetary policy increased inflation rates between 2000 and 2014 in the U.S. Previous studies tried to explain the puzzle, but we analyze it...
Multiple ways of knowing: Teaching research under EPAS 2015

Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) 2015 add new research requirements focusing on multiple ways of knowing and culturally informed approaches to knowledge building. These new req...
Leaf and Bark Essential Oil Compositions of Bursera simaruba from Monteverde, Costa Rica

The leaf and bark essential oils of Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg. from Monteverde, Costa Rica were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry. The leaf oil was dominated by the monoterpene o-cymene (65.2%), while the bark oil had α-phellandrene (29.1%), (E)-caryophyllene (19.3%), o-cymene (13.1%), and α-thujene (11.9%) as major components. The essential oil compositions of B. simaruba from Monteverde, Costa Rica, were markedly different from those previously reported from Jamaica or Guadeloupe.
Rectal Prolapse and Pilonidal Sinus

Rectal prolapse and pilonidal sinus disease in children can, in some situations, be managed successfully in primary care but it is important to be aware of the need for referral when conservative measures have failed or in specific circumstances. This chapter will cover both areas with appropriate recommendations.
Parent survey of sleep problems among children with CHARGE syndrome

Sleep problems are common among children, especially those with developmental disabilities, visual impairments, and behavioral problems. Past research has indicated a particularly high prevalence of clinically-relevant sleep problems for children with CHARGE syndrome, who often possess all three of these qualities. To gather additional information regarding the nature of these sleep problems and how they are most commonly treated amongst parents, an explorative survey was conducted with 30 parents of children with CHARGE syndrome with comorbid sleep problems using the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children, as well as demographic and sleep questionnaires developed for use in this study. Our findings indicated that problems of sleep initiation and maintenance were most commonly reported, consistent with previous research. Parents most often reported the following factors suspected of contributing to sleep problems: self-regulation difficulties, teeth grinding, hormonal imbalance, problem behaviors, and anxiety. The most commonly administered treatments were reported to be the use of positive bedtime routines, melatonin treatment, the use of a weighted blanket, and prescription medications, respectively. While parents reported overall that they felt all three of these intervention strategies were slightly effective at improving their child's sleep problem, the use of positive bedtime routines and melatonin treatment were perceived as more effective by parents. These results aid professionals in the selection of future research and intervention strategies to recommend for parents of children with CHARGE syndrome.
Running-In(to) Transition: Embodied Practice under the Load of Infertility, Baby Loss, and Motherhood.

Running is an embodied feminist practice that both shapes and reflects who women are. The field of tribology includes the science and technology of how surfaces interact in relative motion to one a...
Quantifying effects of laboratory curing conditions on workability, compactability, and cohesion gain of cold in-place recycling

Cold in-place recycling (CIR) is a pavement rehabilitation treatment which has shown promise in terms of environmental benefits, cost savings, and successful performance. Current procedures for asp...
Skeletal muscle adiposity and outcomes in candidates for lung transplantation: a lung transplant body composition cohort study

CT measurement of body composition may improve lung transplant candidate selection. We assessed whether skeletal muscle adipose deposition on abdominal and thigh CT scans was associated with 6 min walk distance (6MWD) and wait-list survival in lung transplant candidates. Each ½-SD decrease in abdominal muscle attenuation (indicating greater lipid content) was associated with 14 m decrease in 6MWD (95% CI −20 to −8) and 20% increased risk of death or delisting (95% CI 10% to 40%). Each ½-standard deviation decrease in thigh muscle attenuation was associated with 15 m decrease in 6MWD (95% CI −21 to −10). CT imaging may improve candidate risk stratification.
Effects of Fungicide and Herbicide Chemical Exposure on Apis and Non-Apis Bees in Agricultural Landscape

Fungicide and herbicide chemistries are commonly applied in agricultural production systems and other agricultural landscapes during flowering periods which are concurrent with the timing of bee-dependent pollination services in many plant species. As a result, bees can be exposed to these pesticides while foraging crops and other flowering plants in the landscape where they have been administered. Laboratory and semi-field studies simulating these pesticide exposure scenarios have demonstrated lethal and sub-lethal impacts to both Apis and non-Apis species of domesticated bees. Exposure to fungicides and herbicides has also been attributed to bee genetic and molecular level changes in some cases. Herbicides can also indirectly impact bees as a result of decreasing weeds and other flowering plants that serve as nutrient resources for foraging bees. We analyze a series of recent studies concerning the toxicity of fungicides and herbicides to Apis and non-Apis bees as a basis for forming our views on key priorities regarding the direction of future research initiatives in this area. Exploring impacts of agricultural pesticides beyond insecticides to bees is timely given documented bee declines in the last decade and resulting widescale interest in identifying different drivers of these declines among the biological and ecological scientific communities.
Zwitterionic Copolymer-Supported Ionogel Electrolytes Featuring a Sodium Salt/Ionic Liquid Solution

A series of zwitterionic (ZI) copolymers, including both binary, fully-ZI and ternary, partially-ZI copolymer variations, have been successfully employed as scaffolds to support mechanically robust...
Is spironolactone the preferred renin-angiotensin-aldosterone inhibitor for protection against COVID-19?

ABSTRACT The high mortality of specific groups from COVID-19 highlights the importance of host-viral interactions and the potential benefits from enhancing host defenses. SARS-CoV-2 requires angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2 as a receptor for cell entry and infection. Although both ACE inhibitors and spironolactone can upregulate tissue ACE2, there are important points of discrimination between these approaches. The virus requires proteolytic processing of its spike protein by transmembrane protease receptor serine type 2 (TMPRSS2) to enable binding to cellular ACE2. Because TMPRSS2 contains an androgen promoter, it may be downregulated by the antiandrogenic actions of spironolactone. Furin and plasmin also process the spike protein. They are inhibited by protease nexin 1 or serpin E2 (PN1) that is upregulated by angiotensin II but downregulated by aldosterone. Therefore, spironolactone should selectively downregulate furin and plasmin. Furin also promotes pulmonary edema, whereas plasmin promotes hemovascular dysfunction. Thus, a downregulation of furin and plasmin by PN1 could be a further benefit of MRAs beyond their well-established organ protection. We review the evidence that spironolactone may be the preferred RASSi to increase PN1 and decrease TMPRSS2, furin, and plasmin activities and thereby reduce viral cell binding, entry, infectivity, and bad outcomes. This hypothesis requires direct investigation.
Truth Prediction by Weakly Connected Agents in Social Networks Using Online Learning

This paper provides a study into the social network where influential personalities collaborate positively among themselves to learn an underlying truth over time but may have misled their followers to believe a false information. Most existing work models the social network as a graph network and applies non-Bayesian learning to understand the behavior of agents in the network. Although this approach is popular, it has the limitation of assuming that the truth - otherwise called the true state - is time-invariant. This is not practical in social network where streams of information are released and updated every second. Thus, this paper improves on existing work by introducing online reinforcement learning into the graph theoretic framework. Specifically, multi-armed bandit technique is applied. A multi-armed bandit algorithm is proposed for weakly connected agents to predict the time-varying true state. The result shows that the weakly connected agents can predict this time-varying true state, howbeit with a higher regret than the strongly connected agents.
Telemetry Bed Usage for Patients with Low-Risk Chest Pain: An Updated Review of the Literature for the Clinician.

Abstract Background Telemetry monitoring in patients with low-risk chest pain continues to be highly used despite a 2011 literature review and recommendations by the Clinical Practice Committee (CPC) of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine that did not find quality data to support its use. Objective To update the medical literature review on the utility of telemetry monitoring in patients with low-risk chest pain and to offer evidence-based recommendations to emergency physicians. Methods A PubMed literature search was performed for systematic reviews in English relevant to low-risk chest pain between 2011 and 2019 and then expanded to all citations by removing the systematic review criteria. Studies identified then underwent a structured review from which results could be evaluated in the context of the associated 2011 literature review and CPC recommendations. Results The initial search yielded 2 potentially relevant studies, although none directly addressed telemetry. The expanded search resulted in 76 abstracts that were screened. Two addressed telemetry, including the last CPC statement, which were reviewed and recommendations given. Conclusions No further quality data were identified to support the use of telemetry monitoring in patients with low-risk chest pains. Telemetry monitoring is unlikely to benefit patients with low-risk chest pain with a low-risk HEART Score.
Initial Evaluation, Long-Term Monitoring, and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance of Chronic Hepatitis B in Routine Practice: A Nationwide US Study.

INTRODUCTION Previous studies, mostly small and single center, have shown gaps in the evaluation and monitoring of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) virus infection. We aimed to examine the rates and predictors of adherence to guidelines for CHB care in a large nationwide cohort. METHODS We identified adult patients with CHB infection from the Truven MarketScan databases of commercially insured and Medicare patients with private insurance supplement (2007-2014) using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. The initial evaluation cohort had at least 6 months follow-up, whereas at least 12 months was required for the long-term monitoring cohort. RESULTS We analyzed 55,317 eligible patients with CHB infection: mean age 46 ± 12 years, 58% men, and 14.8% with cirrhosis. Over a mean follow-up of 3.2 ± 2.3 years, 55.8% had specialist (gastroenterology or infectious diseases) visits. For initial evaluation, 59% of patients received both alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA tests, whereas only 33% had ALT, HBV DNA, and hepatitis B e antigen tests, with higher frequencies among patients with specialist visits. For long-term monitoring, only 25% had both ALT and HBV DNA tests performed annually. Among patients at higher risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (patients with cirrhosis, male patients without cirrhosis older than 40 years, and female patients without cirrhosis older than 50), less than 40% underwent annual hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance, with 25% never receiving surveillance during the study period. Predictors of optimal initial evaluation and long-term monitoring were compensated cirrhosis (odds ratio: 1.60 and 1.47, respectively) and specialist visits (odds ratio: 1.86 and 1.31, respectively) (both P < 0.001). DISCUSSION In this large cohort of patients with CHB infection with private insurance or Medicare with private insurance supplement, we observed poor adherence to the recommended initial evaluation and long-term monitoring. Among the predictors of adherence were specialist visits. Further efforts are needed to identify barriers and improve access to care.
English BESA Morphosyntax Performance Among Spanish-English Bilinguals Who Use African American English.

Purpose This study examined the use of African American English (AAE) among a group of young Latinx bilingual children and the accuracy of the English Morphosyntax subtest of the Bilingual English–...
Severe Alcohol-Associated Hepatitis Is Associated With Worse Survival in Critically Ill Patients With Acute on Chronic Liver Failure.

Differences in mortality between critically ill patients with severe alcohol-associated hepatitis (sAH) and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and non-sAH ACLF (i.e., ACLF not precipitated by sAH) are unknown. Such differences are important, as they may inform on prognosis and optimal timing of liver transplantation (LT). Thus, we aimed to compare short-term and longer-term mortality between patients with sAH ACLF and patients with non-sAH ACLF who were admitted to the intensive care unit. Patients with ACLF admitted from 2016-2018 at two tertiary care intensive care units were analyzed. SAH was defined by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's Alcoholic Hepatitis Consortium and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score >20. Mortality without LT was compared between sAH ACLF and non-sAH ACLF using Fine and Gray's competing-risks regression. A total of 463 patients with ACLF (18% sAH and 82% non-sAH) were included. Compared to patients with non-sAH ACLF, patients with sAH ACLF were younger (49 vs. 56 years; P < 0.001) and had higher admission Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) (35 vs. 25; P < 0.001) and Chronic Liver Failure Consortium (CLIF-C) scores (61 vs. 57; P = 0.002). There were no significant differences between the two groups for vasopressor, mechanical ventilation, and hemodialysis use. The cumulative incidence of death was significantly higher in patients with sAH ACLF compared to patients with non-sAH ACLF: 30-day 74.7% versus 45.3%; 90-day 81.9% versus 57.4%; 180-day 83.2% versus 63.0% (unadjusted subdistribution hazard ratio [sHR] 1.88 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.44-2.46]; P < 0.001). After adjusting for CLIF-C score and infection in a multivariable competing-risk model, patients with sAH ACLF had significantly higher risk of death (sHR 1.57 [95% CI 1.20-2.06]; P = 0.001) compared to patients with non-sAH ACLF. Conclusion: Critically ill patients with sAH ACLF have worse mortality compared to patients with non-sAH ACLF. These data may inform prognosis in patients with sAH and ACLF, and early LT referral in potentially eligible patients.
Pion Absorption by Nuclei

The subject of these lectures has a history of experiments and theory of about thirty years. It is not the present purpose to review the subject in detail. There are by now a number of review articles on the subject1–3, and regular reports at two year intervals, at the International Conferences on High Energy Physics and Nuclear Structure (of which the most recent is by H.K. Wa1ter4), which have up-to-date information (see also Ref. 1a). The purpose here is to give an overall impression of what the subject is about, and how it stands.
Chapter 7 Stress and the immune system

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the effects of stress on immune and neuroendocrine systems. Stress can differentially affect various compartments of the immune system, and some immune parameters may be less stress sensitive, possibly due to redundancy in control pathways. Electric footshock stress can enhance antigen-specific humoral and cell-mediated immunity, whereas no changes occur in proliferative responses to polyclonal mitogens. The interaction among stress, depression, and age is important because older people also show age-related alterations in immune function (immunosenescence), a phenomenon that may leave them more vulnerable to stress-induced immune alterations and the development of immune-related diseases, including infectious diseases and cancer. The hypothalamic–pituitary–-adrenal (HPA) axis is responsive to three distinct physiological stimuli: (1) circadian rhythm inputs from the suprachiasmatic nucleus, (2) physical and psychological stress, and (3) inflammatory and immune reactions. Stressful experiences of a wide range are capable of stimulating the HPA axis with the resultant release of corticosteroids. Corticosteroids have potent effects on the immune system, and they are capable of both decreasing immune cell function and inducing lymphocyte subset redistribution between blood and other bodily compartments.
Advanced performance features of the 64-bit PA-8000

The PA-8000 is Hewlett-Packard's first CPU to implement the new 64-bit PA2.0 architecture. It combines a high clock frequency with a number of advanced microarchitectural features to deliver industry-leading performance on commercial and technical applications while maintaining full compatibility with all previous PA-RISC binaries. Among these advanced features are a fifty-six entry instruction reorder buffer to support out-of-order execution, a branch target address cache, branch history table, support for multiple outstanding cache misses and dual integer load/store, floating point multiply/accumulate, and divide/square root units which allow execution of four instructions per cycle. Together these features will enable the PA-8000 to sustain superscalar operation on a wide variety of workloads.
Situation-aware personalized information retrieval for mobile Internet

Recent rapid advances in Internet-based information systems and handheld devices make it possible for users to retrieve information anytime and anywhere. Existing information retrieval (IR) techniques usually require the users to spend much effort to continuously refine their queries to obtain the results they want. Since each refinement is an interaction between a user and information systems, the larger the number of interactions, the more communication overhead and energy consumption are introduced. Due to the severe resource constraints of handheld devices, it is necessary to have an IR technique that can efficiently retrieve information for the user with only one or two interactions. In this paper, an efficient IR technique for mobile Internet by combining situation-based adaptation and profile-based personalization is presented.
Chapter 22 Contribution of glia to pain processing in health and disease.

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the role of glial cells in normal physiology and pathophysiology, particularly as it relates to pain. It emphasizes on microglia and astrocytes, as these two glial populations have been the focus of the majority of studies that have investigated the role of glia in the creation and maintenance of enhanced pain states. The chapter also reviews the basic physiology and function of these glial cells under both basal and activated states. It discusses that glial activation can occur under both physiological and pathological conditions. Peripheral immune challenge is one physiological process that leads to glial activation. Peripheral inflammation and infection leads to immune activation and, consequently, to immune-to-brain communication. It also reviews that spinal cord glial cells are key contributors to the initiation and maintenance of pathological pain states. Evidence linking glia with enhanced pain, both from animal models of chronic pain conditions and from studies of morphine tolerance and the implications of their involvement for human pain management are also presented.
Kinetic analysis of cerebrovascular transport based on indicator diffusion technique

The indicator diffusion method was used for studies of the blood-brain barrier in rats and [131I]iodoantipyrine (IAP) was used as a highly diffusable model test substance. Interlaminar (Taylor) diffusion and effects of red cell carriage were studied with 57Co-diethylene-triaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), 125I-human serum albumin, and 46Sc-microspheres (15 microns diameter). Vascular shunting from the pterygopalatine artery (PPA) into the torcula sinus was observed in some animals, and ligation of the PPA was required to obtain reliable data. Dilution curve of the reference compound was corrected to compensate for any difference in interlaminar diffusion and red cell plus protein carriage of the test substance. Apparent extraction ratio of IAP was calculated for each torcula sinus sample and found to increase during the initial phase of the dilution curve, reach a peak of approximately 0.85, and fall during the latter portion of the curve. These results suggest a heterogeneity of intravascular transit times in the cerebral circulation and a rapid efflux of IAP from brain into venous blood. Because of the topography of cerebral capillaries, we developed a modification of the distributed model for intravascular transit and capillary exchange proposed by Goresky et al. (J. Clin. Invest. 52: 991-1009, 1973) and Rose and Goresky (Circ. Res. 34:541-554, 1976); this modification included a well-mixed tissue compartment, as suggested by Johnson and Wilson (Am. J. Physiol. 210: 1299-1303, 1966) and is named the tissue homogeneity model. The experimental data was analyzed by both the tissue homogeneity and Goresky models. The estimated mean extraction E (0.95 and 0.94) and the estimated permeability-surface area product of influx (PS)1 (3.1 and 2.8 ml.min-1.g-1) for IAP in a whole blood injectate were similar using the two different models. The efflux rate constant (k2) for IAP was consistently smaller when the tissue homogeneity model was used (0.13 +/- 0.02 s-1) vs. that obtained with the Goresky model (0.18 +/- 0.02 s-1). Model simulations also indicated that the efflux parameter k2 was most sensitive to the choice of kinetic models, but we could not discriminate between the two model analyses on the basis of the "quality of fit." Nevertheless, from anatomical considerations, we suggest that the tissue homogeneity model may be more appropriate fro brain.
On addressing accuracy concerns in privacy preserving association rule mining

Randomized Response techniques have been empirically investigated in privacy preserving association rule mining. In this paper, we investigate the accuracy (in terms of bias and variance of estimates) of both support and confidence estimates of association rules derived from the randomized data. We demonstrate that providing confidence on data mining results from randomized data is significant to data miners. We propose the novel idea of using interquantile range to bound those estimates derived from the randomized market basket data. The performance is evaluated using both representative real and synthetic data sets.
Levator scapulae muscle asymmetry presenting as a palpable neck mass: CT evaluation.

PURPOSE To define the normal CT anatomy of the levator scapulae muscle and to report on a series of five patients who presented with a palpable mass in the posterior triangle due to asymmetry of the levator scapulae muscles. PATIENTS AND METHODS The contrast-enhanced CT examinations of the neck in 25 patients without palpable masses were reviewed to establish the normal CT appearance of the levator scapulae muscle. We retrospectively reviewed the contrast-enhanced CT examinations of the neck in five patients who presented with a palpable mass secondary to asymmetric levator scapulae muscles. RESULTS In three patients who had undergone unilateral radical neck dissection, hypertrophy of the ipsilateral levator scapulae muscle was found. In one patient, the normal levator scapulae muscle produced a factitious "mass" due to atrophy of the contralateral levator scapulae muscle. One patient had an intramuscular neoplasm of the levator scapulae. CONCLUSION Asymmetry of the levator scapulae muscles, an unusual cause of a posterior triangle mass, can be diagnosed using CT.
Pilgrimages and publics: The case of Taizé

Applying Michael Warner’s definition of a public as an organized body capable of being addressed in discourse, this essay argues that the mission and associated practices of Taize pilgrimage are a public formation. The argument draws from visits to the Taize community in France, to a Taize youth group in Rotterdam, interviews with pilgrims, writings by community leaders and members, as well as numerous addresses to the European pilgrimages on the part of religious and political leaders. The aims of this argument are to bring pilgrimage research into broader conversations with other strata of cultural theory and to challenge prevailing understandings of the ‘public’ and the relationship between publicness and religion.
BEFORE THE ORIGINAL POSITION: The Neo‐Orthodox Theology of the Young John Rawls

This paper examines a remarkable document that has escaped critical attention within the vast literature on John Rawls, religion, and liberalism: Rawls's undergraduate thesis, “A Brief Inquiry into the Meaning of Sin and Faith: An Interpretation Based on the Concept of Community” (1942). The thesis shows the extent to which a once regnant version of Protestant theology has retreated into seminaries and divinity schools where it now also meets resistance. Ironically, the young Rawls rejected social contract liberalism for reasons that anticipate many of the claims later made against him by secular and religious critics. The thesis and Rawls's late unpublished remarks on religion and World War II offer a new dimension to his intellectual biography. They show the significance of his humanist response to the moral impossibility of political theology. Moreover, they also reveal a kind of Rawlsian piety marginalized by contemporary debates over religion and liberalism.
Disease Ecology: Community Structure and Pathogen Dynamics

The disciplines of community ecology and epidemiology treat complex interactions among species, so a synthesis and integration of the 2 fields are long overdue. Because each field has insights and inferences to offer to the other, such an integration could be mutually beneficial and yield important steps toward a predictive and profound understanding. This book links an interesting framework for analyzing species’ interactions (chapter by R. Holt and A.P. Dobson) with a series of case studies regarding many host-pathogen systems, including both well-known and more novel examples. As such, this volume is a ripe field for taking the first steps toward a synthesis. Several of the case studies are nothing short of fascinating. For example, the studies of microbial communities in ticks (chapter by K. Clay et al.) and mosquito blood meal sources as indicators of arbovirus hosts (chapter by R.S. Unnasch et al.) are impressive demonstrations of the power of melding new molecular tools with more classical epidemiologic studies. Likewise, the studies of Nipah and Hendra viruses (chapter by P. Daszak et al.) and plague (chapter by C. Ray and S.K. Collinge) offer interesting views into complex disease transmission systems. Although a parallel chapter summarizing the complex community and environmental interactions underlying hantavirus transmission would have been a nice complement, the biggest shortfall is that few of the chapters manage to link strongly to the theoretical ecologic framework offered in the chapter by R. Holt and A.P. Dobson. More generally, the book is attractively composed and appears to be bound well and printed on quality paper. For the size and content, though, the price is quite high—I suspect that this volume will be a valued addition to any library but is perhaps unlikely to be purchased by many people. This book will, I hope, be a first step toward a new synthesis of 2 seemingly distant but intimately related fields of inquiry, and at the very least represents an intriguing compendium of well-developed case studies of the complexities of disease systems.
Dynamic Partnership between KCNQ1 and KCNE Subunits

Background: (KCN)Q1 and (KCN)E1 associate to form IKs channels important for cardiac electrical stability. (KCN)E2 is also expressed in the heart and can associate with Q1 or Q1/E1 to suppress the current amplitude. What regulate the partnerships of Q1/Ex (x = 1 or 2) and their stability are not clear. Methods: We use COS-7 & oocyte expression systems to test (a) Q1/Ex stability by pulse-chase experiments, (b) ability of E1 or E2 to traffic to cell surface without/with Q1, and (c) ability of free E1 or E2 peptides to associate with lone Q1 channels in cell membrane. Results: Pulse chase-experiments in COS-7 cells show that Q1 has a mean turnover τ (τturnover) of 13 hr, while Q1-associated E1 (co-immunoprecipitated with Q1) has a τturnover of 6 - 7 hr, suggesting E1 turnover in Q1/E1 complexes. Biotinylation experiments show that E1 expressed alone in COS-7 traffics to the cell surface inefficiently. Q1 coexpression leads to a 5-fold increase in cell surface E1. In contrast, E2 expressed alone in COS-7 traffics more efficiently to cell surface, and Q1 coexpression does not further increase cell surface E2. Injecting vesicles made from E1-expressing COS-7 cells into control oocytes (expressing native Q1) or oocytes pre-injected with Q1 cRNA produces an IKs-like current after a few hours, while injecting ‘empty’ vesicles from untransfected COS-7 cells has not effects. Likewise, injecting vesicles from COS-7 cells expressing E2 (with an extracellular epitope tag) into Q1-expressing oocytes leads to a decrease in current amplitude and appearance of cell surface epitope. Thus, vesicle-delivered E1 or E2 peptides can associate with lone Q1 channels and modulate their function. Proposal: In cardiac mycoytes coexpressing Q1, E1 & E2, both KCNE subunits can associate with Q1 and modulate cardiac IKs channel function in a dynamic fashion.
Developing a model of antecedents to consumers' perceptions and evaluations of price unfairness

Abstract Drawing on previous research in pricing, we propose three broad antecedents to perceptions of price unfairness. Consumers perceive price unfairness when (1) they feel that the firm is making excessive profits, (2) they are not able to understand the pricing structure applied, and (3) they sense the firm is acting in an immoral or unethical manner. Survey data were collected from 969 consumers to understand their perceptions of price unfairness. In the survey, respondents were asked to provide their perceptions of pricing practices for fifteen products or services. A content analysis of consumers' comments confirms a wide array of drivers of price unfairness discussed by researchers and uncovers a few under-researched antecedents.
Reductive Alkylation of Glycopeptide Antibiotics: Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity

Reductive alkylation of the A82846 family of glycopeptide antibiotics has the potential of producing seven products. N-Alkylation of the disaccharide amino function can be accomplished selectively, and offers the greatest increase in antibacterial activity. Products resulting from N-alkylation of LY264826 (A82846B) provide the most potent derivatives as compared to other members of this class of antibiotics. Two of these derivatives, LY307599 and LY333328 are approximately 500 times more active than vancomycin against vancomycin-resistant enterococci.
The snapping hip syndrome

The snapping hip syndrome is a symptom complex characterized by hip pain and an audible snapping of the hip with exercise typically seen in young individuals. "External" and "internal" etiologies have been described, although the "internal" etiology is poorly understood. A clinical, radiographic, and anatomical study of eight patients with this disorder, secondary to an internal etiology, was undertaken to aid in the diagnosis and surgical treatment. Iliopsoas bursography with cineradiography revealed subluxation of the iliopsoas tendon to be an apparent cause of the snapping hip. The anatomy of the hip in relationship to the iliopsoas tendon is defined with the anterior inferior iliac spine, iliopectineal eminence, and lesser trochanter assuming a significant role in the syndrome. An operative approach involving a partial release and lengthening of the iliopsoas tendon, with minimal resection of a lesser trochanteric bony ridge, if involved, is described.
ASTROMETRY AND ORBITS OF NIX, KERBEROS, AND HYDRA

We present new Hubble Space Telescope observations of three of Pluto's outer moons, Nix, Kerberos, and Hydra. This work revises previously published astrometry of Nix and Hydra from 2002 to 2003. New data from a four-month span during 2007 include observations designed to better measure the positions of Nix and Hydra. A third data set from 2010 also includes data on Nix and Hydra as well as some pre-discovery observations of Kerberos. The data were fitted using numerical point-spread function (PSF) fitting techniques to get accurate positions but also to remove the extended wings of the Pluto and Charon PSFs when working on these faint satellites. The resulting astrometric data were fitted with two-body Keplerian orbits that are useful for short-term predictions of the future positions of these satellites for stellar occultation and for guiding encounter planning for the upcoming New Horizons flyby of the Pluto system. The mutual inclinations of the satellites are all within 02 of the plane of Charon's orbit. The periods for all continue to show that their orbits are near but distinct from integer period ratios relative to Charon. Based on our results, the period ratios are Hydra:Charon = 5.98094 ± 0.00001, Kerberos:Charon = 5.0392 ± 0.0003, and Nix:Charon = 3.89135 ± 0.00001. Based on period ratios alone, there is a trend of increased distance from an integer period ratio with decreasing distance from Charon. Our analysis shows that orbital uncertainties for Nix and Hydra are now low enough to permit useful stellar occultation predictions and for New Horizons encounter planning. In 2015 July, our orbits predict a position error of 60 km for Nix and 38 km for Hydra, well below other limiting errors that affect targeting. The orbit for Kerberos, however, still needs a lot of work as its uncertainty in 2015 is quite large at 22,000 km based on these data.
Importance of sex and relative efficacy at the µ opioid receptor in the development of tolerance and cross-tolerance to the antinociceptive effects of opioids

Rationale: Recent studies indicate that µ opioids are generally more potent and effective as antinociceptive agents in male than female rodents. Objectives: To evaluate the influence of sex on the development of tolerance to the antinociceptive effects of morphine and cross-tolerance to the lower efficacy µ opioids buprenorphine and dezocine in F344 and Lewis rats. Methods: Using a warm-water tail-withdrawal procedure, the antinociceptive effects of morphine, buprenorphine and dezocine were determined before and during chronic morphine (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg, b.i.d., for 7 and 14 days) administration. Results: Under acute conditions, morphine was more potent in males and during chronic morphine administration tolerance development was generally greater in males. As males were more sensitive to the acute effects of morphine, the functional chronic morphine dose (i.e., chronic morphine dose/acute morphine ED50) administered to males was larger than in females. Analyses of the relationship between the functional chronic morphine dose and tolerance indicated that morphine tolerance development was comparable in males and females. Under acute conditions, buprenorphine and dezocine were more potent and effective in males. During chronic morphine administration, cross-tolerance was conferred to these opioids as evidenced by rightward, and in some cases downward, shifts in their dose-effect curves. Decreases in the maximal effects produced by buprenorphine and dezocine were more frequently observed in females. Conclusions: That comparable levels of morphine tolerance were obtained in males and females when the functional chronic morphine dose was taken into consideration suggests that the mechanism underlying tolerance is not sex-dependent. Sex differences in the effectiveness of buprenorphine and dezocine when administered acutely and during chronic morphine administration further suggest that these opioids have lower efficacy at the µ opioid receptor in females.
Simple models of the energetics of transversely vibrating plates

Abstract Approximate energy models for infinite and finite plates are derived using three relationships; an energy balance, a loss factor damping model and an approximate energy transmission model. The energy transmission relationship for the infinite plate relates the far field radial intensity, the group speed and the local energy density. The resulting energy equation for infinite plates is an excellent approximation in the far field. For finite plates, the far field energy density and intensity expressions for plane wave approximations are smoothed in order to derive an energy transmission relationship. The resulting relationship is analogous to Fourier’s law of heat conduction. The energy model is a second order equation which models the smoothed far field energy distribution. The equations model the general behavior of finite plates well and explain the dependence of plate energetics on frequency and damping.
FUNCTION OF VASCULAR COUNTER-CURRENT HEAT EXCHANGER IN PYROGEN INDUCED FEVER.

SummaryThe initial rise in pyrogen induced fever in rabbits can be accounted for by the increase in heat production and decrease in heat loss. The secondary rise can be attributed to increased amount of heat recovered by the core through counter-current heat exchanger.
A new scale for clinical assessment in geriatric populations: Sandoz Clinical Assessment--Geriatric (SCAG).

The importance of diagnostic differentiation between early senile deterioration and depressive disorders in the aged led to the development of Sandoz Clinical Assessment—Geriatric (SCAG) as a new rating instrument especially applicable to the elderly. It is composed of 18 symptom areas rated on a 7-point format. Study 1 was carried out on 51 geriatric subjects (25 volunteers and 26 hospital inpatients at a health center), tested by SCAG and also by the widely used MSER (Mental Status Examination Record). In Study 2, data were obtained on 8 subjects tested by 4 psychiatrists, to determine interrater reliability. The statistical findings indicated that SCAG is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing psychopathology in the elderly.