cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adaptive bidirectional associative memories

Bidirectionality, forward and backward information flow, is introduced in neural networks to produce two-way associative search for stored stimulus-response associations (A(i),B(i)). Two fields of neurons, F(A) and F(B), are connected by an n x p synaptic marix M. Passing information through M gives one direction, passing information through its transpose M(T) gives the other. Every matrix is bidirectionally stable for bivalent and for continuous neurons. Paired data (A(i),B(i)) are encoded in M by summing bipolar correlation matrices. The bidirectional associative memory (BAM) behaves as a two-layer hierarchy of symmetrically connected neurons. When the neurons in F(A) and F(B) are activated, the network quickly evolves to a stable state of twopattern reverberation, or pseudoadaptive resonance, for every connection topology M. The stable reverberation corresponds to a system energy local minimum. An adaptive BAM allows M to rapidly learn associations without supervision. Stable short-term memory reverberations across F(A) and F(B) gradually seep pattern information into the long-term memory connections M, allowing input associations (A(i),B(i)) to dig their own energy wells in the network state space. The BAM correlation encoding scheme is extended to a general Hebbian learning law. Then every BAM adaptively resonates in the sense that all nodes and edges quickly equilibrate in a system energy local minimum. A sampling adaptive BAM results when many more training samples are presented than there are neurons in F(B) and F(B), but presented for brief pulses of learning, not allowing learning to fully or nearly converge. Learning tends to improve with sample size. Sampling adaptive BAMs can learn some simple continuous mappings and can rapidly abstract bivalent associations from several noisy gray-scale samples.
Anterior-posterior polarity in C. elegans and Drosophila - PARallels and differences

The eggs of Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila bear little similarity to each other, yet both depend on the par genes for control of anterior-posterior polarity. Here we explore possible common roles for the par genes (pars) in converting transient asymmetries into stably polarized axes. Although clear mechanistic parallels remain to be established, par-dependent regulation of microtubule dynamics and protein stability emerge as common themes.
Simple vocal tasks for detecting vocal fold swelling

Summary The purpose of this pilot study was to test the validity and reliability of three simple vocal tasks in detecting vocal fold swelling in a group of 43 subjects that included singers and nonsingers. The tasks consisted of softly sung staccato, legato, and trilled phrases, primarily at high pitches in falsetto register. A male laryngologist and female speech pathologist served as both elicitors and judges of vocal productions. On each task, a subject's performance was rated perceptually on a scale of 1–10 according to previously specified criteria. Laryngeal videostroboscopic examinations, which were performed subsequently, provided the visual basis for each subject's diagnosis and for perceptual rating of lesion severity or, in the case of vocal fold swelling, of size and shape. Auditory-perceptual rating scores of subjects' performances did not differ significantly as a function of elicitor. However, small interjudge differences were found on two of the three tasks. Median scores derived from rated performance of the subject group as a whole were significantly correlated with the presence of vocal fold pathologies. When data of singers and nonsingers were analyzed separately, these correlations were strengthened for singers and nullified for nonsingers. Performance scores on staccato and legato tasks were more strongly correlated with the presence of vocal fold swelling than scores on the trill task. Stepwise regression showed that both size and shape of the swellings contributed to the variance in legato and staccato task performance, but that size appeared to have a greater effect on performance scores. Based on these results, it is possible that the legato and staccato tasks may be useful tests for detecting vocal fold swelling in singers.
An evaluation of difference and threshold techniques for efficient checkpoints

To ensure reliability, long-running and large-scale computations have long used checkpoint-and-restart techniques to preserve computational progress in case of soft or hard failures. These techniques can incur significant overhead, consuming as much as 15% of an application's resources for the US DOE's leadership-class systems, and these overheads are projected to grow in exascale systems which are likely to have lower IO to compute ratios and higher failure rates. We explore the use of differenced checkpoint and cutoff techniques to increase the effectiveness of Lempel-Ziv (gzip), and thereby reduce the size of checkpoints. We apply these techniques to several types of scientific checkpoint data from NWChem, a widely-used computational chemistry code. Our results show that while standard compression techniques (and even those customized for floating point data) yield modest compression ratios (≈1.2), differenced checkpoints and cutoffs are dramatically more successful, improving compression ratios by 50% to 1.55 to 3.15 for a variety of checkpoint data. If cutoffs in the differenced checkpoints are incorporated, these compression ratios can be increased further with cutoff of 10™7 yielding dramatic improvement in compression ratios greater than 100. These results suggest further exploration of these approaches are promising to reduce checkpoint (and resilience) overhead.
Polyamine Protection Against Chemically Induced Hepatotoxicity

The protective effect of putrescine (a polyamine) on chemically induced hepatotoxicity in male Sprague-Dawley rats was assessed by mortality, clinical pathological changes (specifically alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities), and liver histopathological changes. A reduction in hepatotoxicant-induced mortality by 20% to 25% was observed when putrescine (100 mg/kg/day) was administered intraperitoneally for 3 days prior to hepatotoxicant administration (either carbon tetrachloride or allyl alcohol at dose levels approximating the LD50). Putrescine significantly reduced the hepatoxicant-induced increases in serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities. Histological assessment revealed that putrescine pretreatment also reduced the severity and frequency of hepatotoxicant-induced liver necrosis. Administration of putrescine at 0.5 and 3 hours following hepatotoxicant treatment decreased both hepatoxicant-induced mortality and hepatoxicant-induced increas...
Development and Analysis of Various Clonal Alloantigen- Dependent Cytotoxic Cell Lines from Channel Catfish

To determine the phenotypes of cytotoxic cells in channel catfish, clonal alloantigen-dependent leukocyte lines were established from mixed leukocyte cultures. Each clone was analyzed for expression of TCR alpha and beta genes by RT-PCR and for target cell specificity by 51Cr-release assay. Based on the above criteria, the following five different cell types were identified among the 19 clones analyzed: 1) TCR alphabeta+ allospecific cytotoxic cells, 2) TCR alphabeta+ nonspecific cytotoxic cells, 3) allospecific TCR alphabeta+ noncytotoxic cells, 4) TCR alphabeta- nonspecific cytotoxic cells, and 5) TCR alphabeta- allospecific cytotoxic cells. The demonstration of cloned, TCR alphabeta+, allospecific cytotoxic effectors provides the strongest evidence to date for the existence of cytotoxic T cells in fish.
The Effects of Principles-Based Accounting Standards on Accounting Quality

We investigate the accounting quality effects from implementing four accounting standards, which contain key elements of a principles-based accounting system. Consistent with the definitions for assets and liabilities in the conceptual framework, the FASB's approach to standard setting has recently focused on the balance sheet. We therefore examine the influence of four major balance sheet-oriented accounting standards on accounting quality. We provide evidence that forecast error, forecast dispersion, and the explanatory power of a valuation model are positively affected by the balance sheet accounting standards - especially with respect to pensions and other post-retirement benefits. Increasing accounting quality based on analyst forecast measures is documented even in the presence of expected increased earnings volatility. These results are consistent with benefits to analysts and investors from the new information provided by the accounting standards. Thus, we provide evidence based on existing standards that can be used to assess the merits of a principles-based model for future standard setting.
SEXUAL REPRODUCTION IN THE FRESHWATER DINOFLAGELLATE GLOEODINIUM MONTANUM1

The sexual life cycle of Gloeodinium montanum Klebs was examined with light and scanning electron microscopy. In unialgal cultures G. montanum divided predominantly by simple division, giving rise to two nonmotile cells. When placed in fresh medium, 2–4 biflagellated swarmers were formed from the vegetative cells. Swarmers developed directly into vegetative cells or acted as gametes. Both isogamy and anisogamy were observed. Gloeodinium montanum is homothallic. Fusion occurred in the non-motile state producing a large aplanozygote, which germinated after approximately two months to a year or more. Zygote germination liberated four aplanospores. Budding of the zygote, resulting from unequal division of the protoplast and multiple fusion attempts also were observed.
CONTINGENCY RULES THEORY, CONTEXT, AND COMPLIANCE BEHAVIORS

The contingency rules theory assumes that: (1) compliance-gaining and compliance-resisting activities are governed antecedently by Jive varieties of self-evaluative and adaptive contingency rules; (2) the actual contexts where social influence agents interact determine the configuration of rules governing their persuasive actions; and (3) an actual context is a function of volitional behavior within fixed potential contextual boundaries. Two studies are reported that assessed the power of self-evaluative and adaptive rules to explain subjects' compliance behaviors as a function of actual and potential contexts. In the first study, the impact that the three volitional variables, intimacy, personal benefits, and rights has on the mix of contingency rules governing responses to compliance-gaining messages was assessed. The second study measured the combined effects of the fixed potential variable, sex role of message recipients, and two volitional dimensions, power and rights, on the rule structure governing compliance behaviors. The results of both studies supported the contingency rules theory, demonstrating that the configuration of rules governing subjects’ responses to persuasive requests varies sharply as a function of the interplay among the contextual dimensions of psychological sex-type, intimacy, personal benefits, power, and rights to resist persuasive messages. The advantages and limitations of the contingency rules theory's account of compliance-gaining behaviors are discussed.
Addressing human factors in electric vehicle design: Building an integrated computational human-electric vehicle framework

Electric vehicle (EV) has been developed rapidly and predicting the lifetime of Li-ion batteries in EVs has become an important issue. Characteristics of human driver and the battery configuration interact and both play important roles in determining EV battery lifetime. However, few of existing studies was able to integrate both driver and EV battery into one framework. To address this problem, the current work proposed the first integrated computational human-electric vehicle framework (ICHEV) and analyzed the effects of driver differences (including personality, decision making reference (DMR), charging strategy, driving profile, and living schedule) and battery configuration on the lifetime of the battery. The battery life can be predicted based on and battery configuration. Software was developed according to the framework. ICHEV can be used to: 1) Predict battery life given the fixed driver characteristics and fixed battery configuration; 2) Obtain the optimal battery configuration given the fixed drivers' characteristics and target lifetime of battery; and 3) Propose the optimal driving behavior and charging strategy given the fixed battery configuration, target lifetime of battery and living schedule
Effect of reinforcement duration on fixed-interval responding.

Five different reinforcement durations occurred randomly within each session on fixed interval 60-sec. Postreinforcement pause was directly related (and “running” rate inversely related) to the duration of reinforcement initiating each fixed interval.
Pulse transmission scheduling for a distributed system of cooperative radars

We introduce a simultaneous pulse transmission scheduling scheme for a distributed wireless network of cooperative tracking radars. Rather than treat each of the radars as an independent system, we model the individual radars as part of a system-of-systems and coordinate simultaneous transmissions across the network to produce constructive pulse collisions at the target. It is shown that this scheduling algorithm couples improved target discrimination due to spatial diversity with a reduced per node power requirement due to increased signal-to-noise ratios at the receivers. This simultaneous scheduling strategy is combined with a detection and localization multistatic time-scheduled strategy in a two-phase hybrid approach. Algorithms are developed for both phases that minimize inter-pulse interference and communication overhead while maximizing pulse repetition rate. Potential error sources are identified and studied for both the radar transmissions as well as the underlying communication network.
Functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound for high temporal resolution measurement of lateralization in visual memory and visual search cognitive tasks

Functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound (fTCD) is a non-invasive sensing modality that measures blood flow velocities in cerebral arteries (CBFV) with high temporal resolution. Few studies have examined the relationship of CBFV change during visual search and visual memory cognitive tasks. Here a protocol to compare lateralization between these two similar tasks using fTCD is demonstrated. Thirteen healthy volunteers were shown visual scenes on a computer and performed visual search and visual memory tasks while CBFV in the bilateral middle cerebral arteries was monitored with fTCD. Each subject completed 40 trials, consisting of baseline, calibration, instruction, and task periods. Lateralization was computed for each trial by subtracting the percent increase in CBFV on the right side from that on the left side. Results showed significant lateralization of both tasks, with memory reaching left lateralization of 1.3 percent, and search reaching right lateralization of 0.5 percent, agreeing with the hypothesis that memory is more left lateralized and search is more right lateralized. The protocol is straightforward and the equipment inexpensive, introducing a low-cost, high temporal resolution technique to further study lateralization of the brain.
Structural basis of receptor sharing by interleukin 17 cytokines.

The interleukin 17 (IL-17) family includes six cytokines and five receptors. Garcia and co-workers solve the crystal structure of the receptor IL-17RA bound to IL-17F and suggest that IL-17RA may act as a shared subunit among multiple IL-17 receptor complexes. Interleukin 17 (IL-17)-producing helper T cells (TH-17 cells), together with their effector cytokines, including members of the IL-17 family, are emerging as key mediators of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Here we present the crystal structure of a complex of IL-17 receptor A (IL-17RA) bound to IL-17F in a 1:2 stoichiometry. The mechanism of complex formation was unique for cytokines and involved the engagement of IL-17 by two fibronectin-type domains of IL-17RA in a groove between the IL-17 homodimer interface. Binding of the first receptor to the IL-17 cytokines modulated the affinity and specificity of the second receptor-binding event, thereby promoting heterodimeric versus homodimeric complex formation. IL-17RA used a common recognition strategy to bind to several members of the IL-17 family, which allows it to potentially act as a shared receptor in multiple different signaling complexes.
Quasi-optical amplifier array using direct integration of MMICs and 50 /spl Omega/ multi-slot antennas

A new 50 /spl Omega/ planar antenna structure is presented for finite thickness dielectric substrates. Direct integration of these antennas and commercial MMIC amplifier chips is explored for quasi-optical power combining. A prototype 4/spl times/4 array demonstrated 10 dB gain with 4% bandwidth @ 11 GHz with no matching networks. >
Targeting PKC-Mediated Signal Transduction Pathways Using Enzastaurin to Promote Apoptosis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia-Derived Cell Lines and Blast Cells

Recent studies in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) suggest activation of pro-proliferative signaling cascades including those mediated by protein kinase C (PKC) represent a poor prognostic factor for patients. The classical PKC isoforms α and β generally support survival signaling and have emerged as important targets for anti-cancer therapy. Enzastaurin is a PKC β inhibitor and is in clinical trials for lymphomas, gliomas, and lung cancer. Presently, it is not known if enzastaurin could be effective against AML. In the current study, we found that high dose enzastaurin was found to promote apoptosis in the AML-derived cell lines and in blast cells from AML patients. The mechanism of cell death, however, likely does not involve PKC β as another PKC β inhibitor was not toxic to AML cell lines and did not promote enzastaurin-induced cell killing. While enzastaurin is fairly specific for PKC β, the agent can inhibit other PKC isoforms at higher concentrations. Enzastaurin was effective at inhibiting PKC α phosphorylation and membrane localization in the AML cell lines and suppressed phosphorylation of BCL2. Furthermore, enzastaurin suppressed activation of ERK (which can be activated by PKC α). Analysis of the serine/threonine phosphorylation profile in HL60 cells after enzastaurin treatment revealed that the drug inhibits the phosphorylation of a distinct set of proteins while promoting phosphorylation of another set of proteins. This suggests the drug may regulate multiple signaling pathways. Taken together, these findings suggest that enzastaurin could be effective in the therapy of AML.
Steady Response to Tropical Heating in Wavy Linear and Nonlinear Baroclinic Models

Abstract The linear, steady-state, baroclinic model response to a tropical heating superimposed on a three-dimensional basic state is examined in this study. The emphasis is on the relevance of the linear model solution as compared to a fully nonlinear baroclinic model. The direct response to heating in the fully nonlinear, time-dependent model is obtained as the day-30 model response, following the Jin and Hoskins approach. When a 15-day linear damping is included in addition to Rayleigh friction, Newtonian cooling, and a scale-selective biharmonic diffusion, the comparison of the linear and the nonlinear model responses to a 2°C/day tropical heating reveals a striking similarity in both the spatial distribution and amplitude. Thus nonlinearity appears to be a secondary effect and may be crudely represented by the 15-day linear damping, and the linear steady-state model can be a useful tool in diagnostic studies. Both the linear and the nonlinear model responses show an insensitivity to heating longitude...
Learning the Structure of Deep Convolutional Networks

In this work, we develop a novel method for automatically learning aspects of the structure of a deep model, in order to improve its performance, especially when labeled training data are scarce. We propose a new convolutional neural network model with the Indian Buffet Process (IBP) prior, termed ibpCNN. The ibpCNN automatically adapts its structure to provided training data, achieves an optimal balance among model complexity, data fidelity and training loss, and thus offers better generalization performance. The proposed ibpCNN captures complicated data distribution in an unsupervised generative way. Therefore, ibpCNN can exploit unlabeled data -- which can be collected at low cost -- to learn its structure. After determining the structure, ibpCNN further learns its parameters according to specified tasks, in an end-to-end fashion, and produces discriminative yet compact representations. We evaluate the performance of ibpCNN, on fully-and semi-supervised image classification tasks, ibpCNN surpasses standard CNN models on benchmark datasets, with much smaller size and higher efficiency.
The Metabolic Clearance Rates and Interconversion of Cortisol and Cortisone in Pregnant and Nonpregnant Baboons

Abstract Pregnancy alters the pattern of maternal cortisol (F) metabolism and increases the maternal serum cortisol-binding capacity (CBC) of baboons. To determine whether these changes are associated with alterations in F clearance, the metabolic clearance rate (MCR) and interconversion (ρ) of F and cortisone (E) were measured by continuous infusion of [3H]F and [14C]E in 9 regularly menstruating and 7 pregnant baboons (Papio papio). In non-pregnant animals, the values ( ± se) for MCR-E (488 ± 48 l/day) were greater (P MCR-F, the per cent of F bound to proteins other than albumin (75 ± 2) was greater (P < 0.001) than the per cent of E bound (52 ± 3). The production rate(MCR × peripheral concentration; μg/min) of F (55.1 ± 7.9) was greater (P < 0.001) than that of E (28.5...
Ability of bed bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) defensive secretions (E)‐2‐hexenal and (E)‐2‐octenal to attract adults of the common bed bug Cimex lectularius

Accurate and timely surveillance of bed bug infestations is critical for the development of effective control strategies. Although the bed bug-produced volatiles (E)-2-hexenal and (E)-2-octenal are considered as defensive secretions, the present study demonstrates, using ethovision® video-tracking software (Noldus Information Technology Inc., Leesburg, Virginia), that low amounts of these commercially-obtained aldehydes function as attractants, and high amounts function as local repellents, against the common bed bug Cimex lectularius L. In behavioural assays, both males and female C. lectularius are attracted to 0.04 µg of an aldehyde blend (1 : 1) for up to 1 h after initial treatment of filter paper disks. Males differ from females in their response to higher amounts of aldehydes, with females and males exhibiting maximum local repellency at 40 µg and 400 µg, respectively. The results suggest that these bed bug secretions may be candidates for lures and monitors.
Indigenous Residential Development and Property Investment

This article looks into indigenous residential development and property investment in both New Zealand and Canada. New Zealand and more specifically Waikato-Tainui and Ngai Tahu appear to be leading the way in regards to indigenous property development and investment. Canadian Indigenous groups are also entering the property market but little international literature exists around other groups. This results in the conclusion that New Zealand and Canada are the only two countries where indigenous groups are becoming significant players in the property market.
UNITARITY OF PAULI TRANSFORMATIONS.

We study canonical transformations which mix pairs of fermion excitations in a second quantized theory and show how their unitarity depends on the given representation of the canonical anticommutation relations.
Synergistic effect of cortisol and growth hormone on hepatic ornithine decarboxylase activity.

SummaryLiver ornithine decarboxylase activity is stimulated by hydrocortisone as well as by growth hormone. Hypophysectomy lowers basal levels but adrenalectomy does not. Simultaneous administration of both growth hormone and hydrocortisone increases the activity more than the sum of the increase due to each hormone alone. Pharmacological dosages of testosterone, epinephrine, insulin, l-thyroxine, estradiol, and glucagon produced only minor alterations in hepatic ODC levels.
Application of Principal-agent Theory in Cost Reduction

The principal-agent relation between managers and producers is analyzed with the principal-agent theory in information economics, and measures of managers to stimulate producers to reduce cost is discussed. The models under symmetric information condition (without moral hazard) and asymmetric information condition (with moral hazard)are given, and the strategies used by managers under the two conditions to stimulate producers to reduce cost are discussed respectively.
Blinatumomab, a Bispecific T-cell Engager (BiTE®) for CD-19 Targeted Cancer Immunotherapy: Clinical Pharmacology and Its Implications

Blinatumomab is a bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE®) antibody construct that transiently links CD19-positive B cells to CD3-positive T cells, resulting in induction of T-cell-mediated serial lysis of B cells and concomitant T-cell proliferation. Blinatumomab showed anti-leukemia activity in clinical trials and was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-negative relapsed/refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (r/r ALL). The objectives of this work were to characterize blinatumomab pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and to evaluate dosing regimens. Data from six phase I and II trials in patients with r/r ALL, minimal residual disease-positive ALL, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) were analyzed. Blinatumomab pharmacokinetics was characterized by non-compartmental and population pharmacokinetic analyses and pharmacodynamics was described graphically. Blinatumomab exhibited linear pharmacokinetics under continuous intravenous infusion for 4–8 weeks per cycle over a dose range of 5–90 µg/m2/day, without target-mediated disposition. Estimated mean (standard deviation) volume of distribution, clearance, and elimination half-life were 4.52 (2.89) L, 2.72 (2.71) L/h, and 2.11 (1.42) h, respectively. Pharmacokinetics was similar in patients with ALL and NHL and was not affected by patient demographics, supporting fixed dosing in adults. Although creatinine clearance was a significant covariate of drug clearance, no dose adjustment was required in patients with mild or moderate renal impairment. Incidence of neutralizing antidrug antibodies was <1 %. Blinatumomab pharmacodynamics featured T-cell redistribution and activation, B-cell depletion, and transient dose-dependent cytokine elevation. Blinatumomab did not affect cytochrome P450 enzymes directly; cytokines may trigger transient cytochrome P450 suppression with low potential for inducing drug interactions. Blinatumomab has unique pharmacokinetic and immunological features that require indication-dependent dosing regimens. Stepped dosing is required to achieve adequate efficacy and minimize cytokine release in diseases with high tumor burden.
Priapism Caused by Primary Thrombocythemia

AbstractA rare case of primary thrombocythemia causing priapism is reported, including its simple surgical management and a brief discussion of the disease entity
Environmental Stigma: Resident Responses to Living in a Contaminated Area

This article examined the extent to which residents living in the Midland-Saginaw-Bay City area in Eastern Michigan felt stigmatized due to industrial contamination. Seventy in-depth interviews were conducted with local residents, focusing on the extent to which they experienced three aspects of stigma-affective, cognitive, and behavioral. Results indicated that although some participants were not concerned with living in a contaminated community, local residents largely perceived dioxin as a risk to individual health and the local environment. Concern, shock, and irritation were typical affective responses at the time participants learned of the contamination. Several participants indicated a feeling of embarrassment and fear of being rejected by others because of the stigma associated with industrial contamination. Instead of actively seeking information about dioxin contamination and remediation, participants often relied on information provided to them by government officials. Behaviorally, participants avoided eating locally caught fish and prepared fish more carefully in order to avoid exposure to contaminants. As a whole, this study provided insight to understand affective, cognitive, and behavioral responses to environmental stigma.
Projects and Proposals in Business Services

“Business services” are those services provided for business customers. History has indicated that this service sector has been the largest and most rapidly growing of all service sectors in the U.S. Of course projects, proposals and planning for projects are important in these services. In-depth interviews with managers thus have been completed in the eight segments that comprise approximately 80 percent of the revenues that are attributed to this sector. Results suggested that two elements were important in arriving at an understanding for a project in these services — the “nature” of the interaction and the “content” that these interactions tended to take. This two-element model is thought to be generally applicable across business services and may be a special case of the application of communication theory as developed for national cultures. Significant differences in detail appear to exist, however, in the eight segments and some of these differences are described. Qualitative association may be made with observations on profitability made in business service segments.
Reconfiguring European history and cultural memory in Jamal Mahjoub’s Travelling with Djinns

This article focuses on British-Sudanese writer Jamal Mahjoub’s novel Travelling with Djinns (2003). I argue that the novel attempts to reconfigure European history and cultural memory through a tr...
Introduction: Counting on Nature

‘2 degrees Celsius.’ This number dominated the world media in December 2015, as representatives of 195 nations convened at COP21 in Paris to discuss and agree upon ways to stop climate change. ‘2 d...
Anal-fin ray morphology indicates sexual maturity in Brevimyrus niger (Teleostei, Mormyridae).

This osteological survey of 249 specimens of Brevimyrus niger ranging in size from 44 to 137 mm standard length (LS) demonstrated that developmental changes in anal-fin morphology can serve as a predictor of sexual maturity in this species. Anal-fin ray bases begin to expand when fish reach c. 90 mm LS at which size and above there were roughly equal numbers of individuals observed with expanded and unmodified anal-fin bases, reflecting a 1:1 sex ratio.
US Counterpoint to Chapter 15

In Chapter 15, Rustamzadeh and Lam provided a thorough discussion of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting and have proposed rational recommendations for long-term care and follow-up of shunted patients. Many, if not most, patients do not conform well to a standardized schedule of care. Table 1 shows our current practice for routine care. Several factors may modify the management of individual patients. CSF diversion is indicated for a variety of diagnoses, and numerous surgical techniques and hardware choices exist. In addition, patients often become more complex with each shunt revision. These variables preclude entirely uniform recommendations for long-term care and follow-up. Beyond routine care, a number of situations require particular attention. Suspected shunt malfunction or infection prompts the majority of unscheduled office or emergency room visits and have been thoroughly reviewed. Pregnancy in shunted patients warrants further discussion. Although much of the care of shunted patients involves addressing issues that arise unexpectedly, routine follow-up plays an important role in minimizing morbidity in these patients.
Das Verhältnis von Sicherheit und EU-Binnenmarkt

Laut Art. 26 Abs. 2 des Vertrags uber die Arbeitsweise der Europaischen Union (AUEV) handelt es sich beim EU-Binnenmarkt um „einen Raum ohne Binnengrenzen, in dem der freie Verkehr von Waren, Personen, Dienstleistungen und Kapital gemas den Bestimmungen der Vertrage gewahrleistet ist.“ Der EU-Binnenmarkt ist somit ein Raum der Freiheiten. Die Idee eines europaischen Binnenmarkts wurde bereits im Vertrag zur Grundung der Europaischen Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft (EWGV) von 1957 erwahnt. Laut Art. 2 EWGV sollte die Aufgabe der Gemeinschaft sein, einen „gemeinsamen Markt“ zu errichten, um eine harmonische Entwicklung der Wirtschaftspolitik der Mitgliedsstaaten zu erzielen.
2-Server PIR with Subpolynomial Communication

A 2-server Private Information Retrieval (PIR) scheme allows a user to retrieve the ith bit of an n-bit database replicated among two noncommunicating servers, while not revealing any information about i to either server. In this work, we construct a 2-server PIR scheme with total communication cost nO(√log / log n log n). This improves over current 2-server protocols, which all require Ω(n1/3) communication. Our construction circumvents the n1/3 barrier of Razborov and Yekhanin [2007], which holds for the restricted model of bilinear group-based schemes (covering all previous 2-server schemes). The improvement comes from reducing the number of servers in existing protocols, based on Matching Vector Codes, from 3 or 4 servers to 2. This is achieved by viewing these protocols in an algebraic way (using polynomial interpolation) and extending them using partial derivatives.
Writing Scholars on the Status of Academic Publications: Implications for Digital Future(s)

This chapter articulates the results from an international survey distributed to the Writing Program Administration listserv (WPA-L), Writing Center listserv (Wcenter), Writing Across the Curriculum listserv (WAC-L), and Graduate Writing Program Administration listserv (gWPA-L) that was ultimately taken by 232 writing scholars. It contextualizes some of the perceptions about print versus digital publishing that emerge throughout the book. The results of the survey indicate, for example, that although institutions increasingly value digital publications for the purposes of tenure and promotion, scholars are still hesitant to refer and submit to digital publications with the same frequency as traditional publications that primarily produce print copies of articles.
Women In Engineering: Insight Into Why Some Engineering Departments Have More Success In Recruiting And Graduating Women

Universities across the United States (U.S.) are perplexed as to why fewer women than men study engineering and why even fewer complete the curriculum and earn an undergraduate degree in engineering. The percentage of undergraduate engineering degrees awarded annually to women in the U.S. since 2000 has remained relatively constant at around 20%. However, some engineering disciplines have had much greater success in graduating women, with some programs awarding 50% or more of their bachelor’s degrees to women. The purpose of this research was to gain a better understanding of why women preferred certain engineering disciplines over others. Up to 17 years of undergraduate engineering department data from the University of Florida (UF) and national averages from the National Science Foundation (NSF) were reviewed to evaluate graduation rates for women in engineering. The total number of graduates at the undergraduate level were compared to the number of undergraduates who identified themselves as women. Linear regression of the data was used to identify trends. In the last 17 years, there has been little change in the overall percentage of women engineering undergraduates, but there is a great disparity between the engineering disciplines. Women earn larger proportions of undergraduate degrees in engineering disciplines where they perceive a societal benefit. How can engineering departments improve their enrollment and retention of women? One way is by providing early-on specific real life examples of how engineers solve society’s most challenging problems.
Collisionless coupling of a high- β expansion to an ambient, magnetized plasma. I. Rayleigh model and scaling

The dynamics of a magnetized, expanding plasma with a high ratio of kinetic energy density to ambient magnetic field energy density, or β, are examined by adapting a model of gaseous bubbles expanding in liquids as developed by Lord Rayleigh. New features include scale magnitudes and evolution of the electric fields in the system. The collisionless coupling between the expanding and ambient plasma due to these fields is described as well as the relevant scaling relations. Several different responses of the ambient plasma to the expansion are identified in this model, and for most laboratory experiments, ambient ions should be pulled inward, against the expansion due to the dominance of the electrostatic field.
Industrieunternehmen und die Transformation von Geschäftsmodellen im Kontext der Digitalisierung – Eine empirische Studie über die Auswirkungen anhand des Business Model Canvas

Im Beitrag werden die Auswirkungen der Digitalisierung auf die Geschaftsmodelle von Industrieunternehmen im Zusammenhang mit der Entwicklung integrierter, datenbasierter Produkt-Dienstleistungsbundel untersucht. Beispiele hierfur sind Produzenten von Automatisierungsrobotern, die zusatzlich zum physischen Kernprodukt ihren Kunden verknupfte, digitale Services zur intelligenten Steuerung, Optimierung oder Wartung anbieten. Dabei konnen durch die Analyse der im laufenden Betrieb erzeugten Daten neue kundenindividuelle Losungsangebote geschaffen und damit zusatzlicher Kundennutzen generiert werden. Industrieunternehmen konnen somit durch die Entwicklung digitaler Geschaftsmodelle entscheidende Wettbewerbsvorteile generieren und neue Markte erschliesen. Im Beitrag werden zunachst die Auswirkungen der Digitalisierung auf die Geschaftsmodelle von Industrieunternehmen untersucht und anhand des Business Model Canvas als etablierte Methode zur Geschaftsmodellentwicklung strukturiert dargestellt und beurteilt. Auf Basis von funf Interviews mit Experten von fuhrenden Unternehmen in verschiedenen Schlusselbranchen werden zentrale Auswirkungen, die daraus resultierenden Herausforderungen sowie praxisrelevante Handlungsempfehlungen diskutiert und abgeleitet. Veranschaulicht werden die mit der Digitalisierung einhergehenden Entwicklungen anhand einer Fallstudie am Beispiel von Mitsubishi Electric. Durch den Beitrag werden Praktikern die mit der digitalen Transformation von Geschaftsmodellen einhergehenden Auswirkungen erlautert sowie Ansatzpunkte fur den Wandel hin zur digitalen, hybriden Wertschopfung aufgezeigt.
A Basic Rhinoplasty Operation

Why is rhinoplasty so difficult? The answer is the wide variation in the patient’s nasal anatomy and aesthetic desires. For the surgeon, the challenge is mastering the endless number of operative techniques available. Thus, the question becomes can one devise a basic rhinoplasty operation? A former resident who was 3 years into private practice made the following request: “Can you give me a basic rhinoplasty operation with which I can get good results and have few revisions?” My answer was quick and blunt — “It is impossible because both the anatomy and the requisite techniques are too varied.” Despite my negativity, the desire to develop a basic rhinoplasty operation has continued to intrigue me. Gradually, the fundamentals of a standard rhinoplasty operation began to crystallize. The following operation is intended for the average well-trained plastic surgeon. It can be expanded to fit a large range of nasal deformities. However, it requires that the surgeon accepts two principles. First, the surgeon must begin by doing only those cases which fit within their surgical comfort zone. Second, the surgeon must implement a progressive approach for learning rhinoplasty surgery. One begins with easier Level 1 cases and then advances to the more challenging Level 2 deformities before ultimately taking on the most difficult Level 3 problems. Distribution wise, perhaps 70% of the primary cases are Level 1, 25% are Level 2, and only 5% are Level 3. A fundamental operation will be presented in a step-by-step fashion in this chapter and its progressive adaptations for the three levels of deformities will be detailed in the rest of the text. It is important to select only those steps that are appropriate for a specific case.
Industry Structure and Impact of Cross-Listings

This paper examines how product market competition is related to the impacts of cross-listing events for both the listing firms and their domestic non-cross-listed rivals. I find that issuing firms enjoy higher abnormal returns and greater subsequent market-share increases when they share more investment opportunities with their domestic rivals. On the other hand, cross-listings have negative spillover effects on rivals that do not cross-list. This negative spillover effect is stronger for firms with similar operations to those of the cross-listing firms than it is for more disparate firms, in that the higher the interdependence of growth opportunities with the issuing firm, the higher the predation risk the non-issuing rival will be exposed to. I find the cross-sectional differences in the change of market shares and cost of capital for those rival firms. In addition, ex ante uncertainty about firm value amplifies the positive effects on issuing firms, but exacerbates the negative spillover effects on rival firms. My results are consistent with both bonding and signaling hypotheses about cross-listings and add explanations for the own and spillover impacts from the perspective of industry competition.
Cultural Analysis of Findings on the Political Instability in the Philippines

The continuing incidence of political instability, conflict, or unrest worldwide has prompted me to investigate the effects of political instability, if any, on mental health. Because I was born, raised, and lived in the Philippines for over 25 years, and because my family lives there, I chose to do a study on the political instability in the Philippines in regard to its effects on the mental health of women.
Socialist exhibits and Sino-Soviet relations, 1950–60

ABSTRACTSocialist bloc exhibits in China in the 1950s communicated ideas about the future prosperity and development to be brought to China in the wake of its alliance with the socialist world, the...
The Function of Criticism in a “Post-secular” Age

In “The Function of Criticism in a ‘Post-Secular’ Age,” Vincent Pecora addresses the issue of the critical vocabulary and new mental frame needed to reopen the question of how we talk (or remain silent) about the religious elements of literary texts (belief, doctrine, the distinction between religion and myth) from the Enlightenment on, with a focus on the tools (or lack thereof) at our disposal. Challenging the supposed religious-to-secular narrative of epistemological progress, Pecora problematizes the various modes of the “post-secular,” and the powerful traditions of thought behind them, suggesting other ways of understanding religious currents in literary texts. Precisely because religion as an imaginative human production continues to be as central in the long view as literature, it should not be ignored. Pecora concludes that post-secular literary interpretation can only be embraced once we acknowledge that secularization and religious revival are not mutually exclusive historical categories, and that understanding religion in the text is more properly a question of language, of tracing out the discursive patterns of doctrines and their secularization that have come to thread themselves throughout our literary traditions.
PATTERNS OF GASTROPOD MOLLUSK PREDATION ON BIVALVE MOLLUSKS ALONG THE UPPER TEXAS GULF COAST

Abstract Predation on bivalve mollusks by gastropod mollusks is common in coastal regions of the United States; however, few previous studies have examined whether drilling gastropods exhibit prey ...
Inherited Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes

Sometimes the evaluation of anemia leads to the diagnosis of an inherited bone marrow failure syndrome. These syndromes describe a group of disorders in which the hematopoietic cell precursors’ ability to proliferate or differentiate is decreased within the bone marrow. Much is now known about these syndromes and much is still rapidly evolving within the scientific literature. Clinically, some of these syndromes have classic stigma associated with them; however, sometimes anemia may be the only presenting symptom. Other times, bone marrow failure will present with isolated thrombocytopenia, isolated neutropenia, or cytopenias involving more than one cell line. This chapter will focus on those bone marrow failure syndromes that most commonly present with anemia, whether isolated or in conjunction with another cell type. The aim is to aid the clinician in better understanding of common clinical presentations, diagnostic undertaking, treatment options, and long-term considerations of each entity described.
Vedolizumab for chronic antibiotic-refractory pouchitis

Background Chronic antibiotic-refractory pouchitis (CARP) is a complication of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA), which poses a therapeutic challenge. Vedolizumab, a gut-selective monoclonal antibody to the α4β7 of integrin, has been used in such patients, but data on its efficacy are limited. Our aim was to assess the efficacy and safety of vedolizumab as induction therapy in CARP patients. Methods In this single-center, historic cohort, patients with CARP who received vedolizumab between January 2015 to June 2017 were identified and analysed. Patients were included if they had active pouchitis with a total of modified pouch disease activity index (mPDAI) score ≥5 or if unavailable clinician diagnosis of active pouchitis. Pre-treatment and at 3-month post-therapy pouchoscopy and clinical visits were used to calculate mPDAI. Results A total of 19 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 26.7 ± 12.8 years, with 10 (53%) males. Nine (47%) patients had been treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents before colectomy and 10 (53%) had anti-TNFs after colectomy and IPAA. Six (32%) patients had improvement in the mPDAI symptom subscores (P = 0.031) and 14 (74%) had improvement in both endoscopic and total mPDAI scores with a median change of -2 units (both P = 0.031). Adverse events were noted only in two (11%) patients and four (21%) required surgery for CARP. Conclusions Our study suggests that vedolizumab has efficacy and can be safely used for CARP patients. Larger studies with a higher number of patients are required to confirm these findings.
Measuring the magnetization of a permanent magnet

The effect of an external magnetic field B on magnetic materials is a subject of immense importance. The simplest and oldest manifestation of such effects is the behavior of the magnetic compass. Magnetization M plays a key role in studying the response of magnetic materials to B. In this paper, an experimental technique for the determination of M of a permanent magnet will be presented. The proposed method discusses the effect of B (produced by a pair of Helmholtz coils) on a permanent magnet, suspended by two strings and allowed to oscillate under the influence of the torque that the magnetic field exerts on the magnet. The arrangement used Newton's second law for rotational motion to measure M via graphical analysis.