cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adaptive Preshuffling in Hadoop clusters

Abstract MapReduce has become an important distributed processing model for large-scale data-intensive applications like data mining and web indexing. Hadoop–an open-source imple- mentation of MapReduce is widely used for short jobs requiring low response time. In this paper, We proposed a new preshuffling strategy in Hadoop to reduce high network loads imposed by shuffle-intensive applications. Designing new shuffling strategies is very appealing for Hadoop clusters where network intercon- nects are performance bottleneck when the clusters are shared among a large number of applications. The network interconnects are likely to become scarce resource when many shuffle-intensive applications are sharing a Hadoop cluster. We implemented the push model along with the preshuffling scheme in the Hadoop system, where the 2-stage pipeline was incorporated with the preshuffling scheme. We implemented the push model and a pipeline along with the preshuffling scheme in the Hadoop system. Using two Hadoop benchmarks running on the 10-node cluster, we conducted experiments to show that preshuffling-enabled Hadoop clusters are faster than native Hadoop clusters. For example, the push model and the preshuffling scheme powered by the 2-stage pipeline can shorten the execution times of the WordCount and Sort Hadoop applications by an average of 10% and 14%, respectively.
A best-first parser

A parser for a speech understanding system is described. The parser uses a best-first strategy in which alternative paths are assigned priorities and paths are suspended as long as there is a higher priority alternative to explore. Discussions are included on the types of steps in a parse, the assignment of priorities, cooperation among competing parses, and experimental results.
The human genome, implications for oral health and diseases, and dental education.

We are living in an extraordinary time in human history punctuated by the convergence of major scientific and technological progress in the physical, chemical, and biological ways of knowing. Equally extraordinary are the sparkling intellectual developments at the interface between fields of study. One major example of an emerging influence on the future of oral health education is at the interface between the human genome, information technology, and biotechnology with miniaturizations (nanotechnology), suggesting new oral health professional competencies for a new century. A great deal has recently been learned from human and non-human genomics. Genome databases are being "mined" to prompt hypothesis-driven "postgenomic" or functional genomic science in microbial models such as Candida albicans related to oral candidiasis and in human genomics related to biological processes found in craniofacial, oral, and dental diseases and disorders. This growing body of knowledge is already providing the gene content of many oral microbial and human genomes and the knowledge of genetic variants or polymorphisms related to disease, disease progression, and disease response to therapeutics (pharmacogenomics). The knowledge base from human and non-human genomics, functional genomics, biotechnology, and associated information technologies is serving to revolutionize oral health promotion, risk assessment using biomarkers and disease prevention, diagnostics, treatments, and the full range of therapeutics for craniofacial, oral, and dental diseases and disorders. Education, training, and research opportunities are already transforming the curriculum and pedagogy for undergraduate science majors, predoctoral health professional programs, residency and specialty programs, and graduate programs within the health professions. In the words of Bob Dylan, "the times they are a-changing."
Early-Life Characteristics, Psychiatric History, and Cognition Trajectories in Later Life

Purpose of the Study: Although considerable attention has been paid to the relationship between later-life depression and cognitive function, the relationship between a history of psychiatric problems and cognitive function is not very well documented. Few studies of relationships between childhood health, childhood disadvantage, and cognitive function in later life consider both childhood health and disadvantage, include measures for psychiatric history, or use nationally representative longitudinal data. Design and Methods: This study uses growth curve models to analyze the relationships between childhood health and disadvantage, psychiatric history, and cognitive function using 6 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, controlling for demographics, health behavior, and health status. Results: A history of psychiatric problems is associated with lower cognitive function and steeper declines in cognitive function with age. The influence of childhood health is mediated by later-life health status and behaviors. A combined history of childhood disadvantage and psychiatric problems more strongly affects cognitive function, but cognitive declines remain consistent with those associated with psychiatric history. These effects are partially mediated by later-life demographic, socioeconomic, or health characteristics. Implications: These findings demonstrate that cumulative disadvantage and a history of psychiatric problems shape later-life cognition and cognitive decline. This evidence can enhance public understanding of the trajectories of cognitive decline experienced by groups living with disadvantage and can enable policy makers and human services providers to better design and implement preventative interventions and support services for affected populations.
Transfer of Training: An Updated Review and Analysis

This study updates the Baldwin and Ford (1988) review of the empirical articles published on training transfer. The updated review and analysis revolves around the four key limitations noted in the original review: (1) the criterion problem of how and when to measure training transfer, (2) the generalizability of results from training design studies, (3) the choice of which trainee characteristics to examine for their impact on transfer, and (4) the conceptualization and operationalization of work environment factors that can impact transfer. Twenty studies were found in the literature since the 1988 review on training transfer. An analysis of these studies found that progress has been made in addressing many of the limitations noted by Baldwin and Ford. This paper concludes with a discussion of future research directions for training transfer research relevant to each of the four areas of criterion measurement, training design, trainee characteristics, and work environment.
Concerted Reaction Mechanism in Deuteration and H/D Exchange of Nitriles over Transition Metals

Abstract In acetonitrile hydrogenation the selectivity to primary amine decreases in the order of Ru, Ni, Rh, Pd, Pt. Ruthenium is highly selective for primary amine and platinum for tertiary amine. The selectivity of the metals is related to their propensity for multiple bond formation. The metal known for the highest propensity to form multiple bonds has the highest selectivity to primary amine. In the deuteration of nitriles both D addition and H/D exchange take place. Most of the primary and secondary amine molecules that are formed when acetonitrile and D 2 mixture is passed over the catalysts have fewer D atoms than predicted by stoichiometry. D atoms are added to the C atom of the CN group, but H atoms are preferentially added to the N atom. For instance, for diethylamine the preferred isotopomers are (CH 3 CD 2 ) 2 NH, (CH 3 CD 2 )–NH–(CD 2 CD 3 ), and (CD 3 CD 2 ) 2 NH. Many of these H atoms originate from isotope exchange of D 2 with the methyl group. A concerted mechanism is proposed in which dissociation of C–H bonds of some CH 3 CN molecules results in H transfer to other CH 3 CN molecules that are adsorbed with their C≡N bond parallel to the surface. Particularly with Ru it is also conceivable that this H transfer is instrumental in the amine desorption step when strong C–Ru bonds have to be broken. A second source of H atoms is a surface overlayer that is formed over all metals and will, initially, have a H/D ratio different from the overall ratio in the feed.
Body Mass Index, Weight Loss, and Mortality in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

THE relationship between body mass index (BMI), weight loss, and mortality in older adults is not entirely clear (1). Matters that remain unresolved include: (i) the shape of the curve regarding the relationship between BMI and mortality; (ii) whether a difference exists between intentional and unintentional weight loss in predicting mortality; and (iii) whether any relationship that may exist between weight loss—either intentional or unintentional—and mortality varies according to BMI status. In older adults, researchers have shown various patterns depicting the association between BMI and mortality. Reasons for discrepancies in these studies include real variations in the study samples as well as methodological differences. Most epidemiological studies suggest that older persons in the lowest BMI categories have the highest mortality, whereas those in the highest BMI categories have the lowest risk for mortality compared to those in the normal range (2–6). The relationship between BMI and mortality in older adults may be confounded by several covariates, however, especially recent weight loss, which has generally been found to be associated with higher mortality in older adults across all BMI categories (7–10). Most studies have not distinguished between intentional and unintentional weight loss. This lack of distinction is problematic because recent unintentional weight loss associated with the presence of disease could obscure the true association between BMI and mortality in lean older people while inflating the benefit of being overweight or obese. Studies that have distinguished between unintentional and intentional weight loss and their effects on mortality have not produced consistent findings (11–13). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the associations between BMI, recent weight loss (either intentional or unintentional), and mortality, while adjusting for other well-established predictors of mortality, in a cohort of older adults participating in the UAB Study of Aging.
Pretest-Posttest Strategy for Researching Neighborhood-Scale Urban Form and Travel Behavior

Communities are increasingly looking to land use planning strategies based on a less auto-dependent urban form to reduce the need for travel, especially drive-alone travel. In recent years, several studies have attempted to test the impact urban form has on travel behavior to determine if such designs are warranted. The results of these studies are mixed because of several shortcomings. Some shortcomings can be attributed to data availability; others are a product of the techniques used to characterize urban form or travel. Still other shortcomings are embedded in the strategies employed, using cross-sectional travel data and correlating travel outcomes with urban form. The line of research is being extended, aimed at isolating the influence of urban form on travel behavior; a new research strategy is presented using longitudinal travel data in concert with detailed measures of travel behavior and urban form. Data sources from the Puget Sound are described and a research strategy is presented that permits...
The Global Cybercrime Industry and Its Structure: Relevant Actors, Motivations, Threats, and Countermeasures

The meteoric rise in cybercrime has been an issue of pressing concern to our society. Cybercrime is global and organized. This chapter deals with definitional issues; analyses economic, social, and political impacts; and discusses methodological, conceptual, logical, and statistical problems in estimating the size of the cybercrime industry. The chapter also sheds light into different types of cybercrimes and relevant actors associated with the cybercrime industry.
The Veterans are All Gone: Evaluating Term Limits after Implementation

After nearly 13 years of research and more than 400 interviews with state legislators in Michigan’s State House and State Senate, the authors present an initial look at the impact of term limits on Michigan’s state legislature. In Michigan legislators expelled from lower chambers often ran for a seat in the upper chamber. So for many years after term limits were initially implemented, the upper chamber in Michigan continued to be dominated by veterans who, although new to that chamber, had served for decades in the lower chamber. Now veteran legislators have been purged from both chambers in Michigan. And only now, we argue, can one evaluate the full impact of legislative term limits on state government. We found that there were more changes in the pre- and post-term-limits State Senate than there were in the pre- and post-term-limits House, to our surprise. Additionally we found that term limits interact in some unexpected and puzzling ways with political party, opposition party status, legislative chamber and sharing the Governor’s party.
Rapid determination by centrifugal ultrafiltration of inter-mixed micellar/vesicular (non-lecithin-associated) bile salt concentrations in model bile: influence of Donnan equilibrium effects.

We have developed the technique of rapid (< 2 h) centrifugal ultrafiltration to measure the inter-mixed micellar/vesicular (non-lecithin-associated) bile salt (BS) concentrations (IMC) of individual BS in model biles. This methodology uses a centrifugal concentrator with a reinforced membrane, through which a small fraction (< 15% total volume) of model biles was ultrafiltered by low centrifugal forces (1500 g 5-60 min). Total and individual BS concentrations in the filtrate were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. However, non-filterable anions, in this case BS/lecithin/cholesterol mixed micelles and unilamellar vesicles, induce an asymmetric distribution of ions across the membrane. Therefore, BS concentrations in the filtrate exceeded the true IMC, which was estimated taking into account Donnan equilibrium effects. To confirm the hypothesis that a correction for Donnan forces was necessary, distributions of BS and another filterable anion, chloride, were measured in systems containing the non-filterable polyanion dextran sulfate as an analogue for non-filterable polyanionic mixed micelles and vesicles. An asymmetric distribution of the monovalent anions chloride and BS monomers as well as polyvalent simple BS micelles was indeed present during centrifugal ultrafiltration. This new methodology was validated by comparing IMC values with those obtained by modified equilibrium dialysis also corrected for Donnan equilibrium effects (Donovan, J.M., et al. 1991. J. Lipid Res. 32: 1501-1512). Centrifugal ultrafiltration, which utilizes < 1 ml of bile, determines the composition in the IMC necessary to separate micelles and vesicles of native biles by techniques that involve dilution of bile such as gel filtration chromatography.
Abstract 3015: Drug and Device Effects on Peak Oxygen Consumption as a Predictor of Therapeutic Effects on Mortality in Heart Failure Randomized Trials

Introduction: Peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2) during stress testing is a predictor of mortality in patients with heart failure (HF) and reduced ejection fraction (EF). It is not known whether drug or device-induced changes in this measure predict the effect of such therapies on mortality. Methods: PubMed was systematically reviewed for randomized, placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) of drug or device therapies for patients with HF and reduced EF. The dataset was limited to therapies that had mortality data in RCTs of >500 patients with >6 months of follow up. RCTs of the effect of those therapies on peak VO2 were then identified, and limited to RCTs of >4 weeks duration. The odds ratio for death in the mortality RCTs was correlated with the placebo-corrected change in peak VO2 for each intervention. Results: We identified mortality RCTs of 24 distinct therapies with a median follow-up of 13 months that directed the search for RCTs of the effect of those therapies on peak VO2. There were 35 peak VO2 trials (n=3,360 patients) involving 18 distinct drug/device therapies with a median follow-up of 24 weeks included. The odds ratio for mortality of the therapies was not correlated with the drug/device-induced placebo-corrected change in peak VO2 (Spearman’s rho=−0.06, p=0.75, Figure). Of the 22 peak VO2 trials that correspond to therapies with favorable effects on mortality, only 27% show a significant increase in peak VO2. Conclusion: Drug- or device-induced effect on peak VO2 does not predict therapeutic effects on mortality for patients with HF and reduced EF. While peak VO2 may objectively reflect functional capacity, it is not a surrogate for an intervention’s effect on long-term mortality.
A novel method for preparing gradient index (GI) plastic rods

The initiator diffusion technique was used in this study to prepare the gradient index(GI) plastic rods, in which two kinds of initiators were used, i.e., thermal initiator and redox initiator. Experimental results showed that a GI plastic rod with a parabolic profile of refractive index was obtained by the initiator diffusion technique. The difference of the refractive index from the center to the periphery (Δn) of the plastic rods was in the range of 0.004–0.014. Δn increased with increasing temperature due to the increase of the gel effect and diffusion rates of monomers at a higher temperature. Furthermore, the GI plastic rod had substantially less defects, e.g., bubbles and opaqueness, than that prepared from interfacial-gel copolymerization.
The relationship between distribution and abundance in a patchy environment

A number of researchers have documented that the average density per patch occupied increases with number of patches occupied.Explanations for this pattern include the idea that extinction probability varies among species as a function of the number of sites they occupy and the hypothesis that widely distributed species can use more kinds of resources than rare species.These ideas can be compared by developing a statistical model of the consequences of patch selection by individual organisms.The model predicts a nonlinear increase in the average number of individuals per patch as the proportion of patches occupied increases
STRETCH AND CURVATURE EFFECTS ON FLAMES

To understand how curvature affects the properties of stretched premixed flames including flame temperature, flame speed, and extinction, comparisons among the tubular premixed flame, the opposed jet flame and the one-dimensional planar flame are drawn physically, experimentally and numerically. By comparing the one-dimensional planar flame and the opposed jet flame, we give the physical process that produces the effects of stretch on laminar flame. The most important difference between them is that the former flow field is one-dimensional, i.e. convection is one-dimensional, and the latter has multi-dimensional convection. The interaction of flow divergence and heat and mass diffusion makes the temperature and flame speed of the stretched flame differ from one- dimensional planar flame; and the flow divergence ratio is proportional to Karlovitz number. By extending the analysis to tubular flame, we can see that the geometry of the tubular flame, i.e. curvature, strengthens the convection in axial direction according to one additional term, which is proportional to the square of Karlovitz number, in the expression of the flow divergence ratio. To prove this, numerical calculation for lean H2/air is presented here. Extinction experiments of lean H2/air, CH4/air and C3H8/air flames are also conducted to verify the analysis.
Prevention of vein graft intimal hyperplasia with photochemical tissue passivation

Objective Saphenous vein is the conduit of choice for bypass grafting. Saphenous vein grafts have poor long-term patency rates because of intimal hyperplasia (IH) and subsequent accelerated atherosclerosis. One of the primary triggers of IH is endothelial injury resulting from excessive dilation of the vein after exposure to arterial pressures. Photochemical tissue passivation (PTP) is a technology that cross-links adventitial collagen by a light-activated process, which limits dilation by improving vessel compliance. The objective of this study was to investigate whether PTP limits the development of IH in a rodent venous interposition graft model. Methods PTP is accomplished by coating venous adventitia with a photosensitizing dye and exposing it to light. To assess the degree of collagen cross-linking after PTP treatment, a biodegradation assay was performed. Venous interposition grafts were placed in the femoral artery of Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were euthanized after 4 weeks, and intimal thickness was measured histologically. Vein dilation at the time of the initial procedure was also measured. Results Time to digestion was 63 ± 7 minutes for controls, 101 ± 2.4 minutes for rose bengal (RB), and 300 ± 0 minutes for PTP ( P P P = .03). Conclusions PTP treatment of venous interposition grafts in a rat model resulted in significant collagen cross-linking, decreased vessel compliance, and significant reduction in IH.
Analysis of Postoperative Thoracolumbar Spine Infections in a Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial Using the Centers for Disease Control Surgical Site Infection Criteria.

Introduction Wound infections following spinal surgery place a high toll on both the patient and the healthcare system. Although several large series studies have examined the incidence and distribution of spinal wound infection, the applicability of these studies varies greatly since nearly every study is either retrospective and/or lacks standard inclusion criteria for defining surgical site infection. To address this void, we present results from prospectively gathered thoracolumbar spine surgery data for which the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) criteria were stringently applied to define a surgical site infection (SSI). Methods A prospective randomized trial of 314 patients who underwent multilevel thoracolumbar spinal surgery with instrumentation followed by postoperative drain placement was completed (Takemoto et al., 2015). The trial consisted of two antibiotic arms: one for 24-hours, and the other for the duration of the drain; no differences were found between the arms. All infections meeting CDC criteria for SSI were included. Results A total of 40 infections met CDC criteria for SSI, for an overall incidence of 12.7%. Of these, 20 (50%) were culture-positive. The most common organism was Staphylococcus aureus (4 total: methicillin-sensitive=2; methicillin-resistant=2), followed by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (3 cases), Propionibacterium acnes and Escherichia coli (2 cases each). Six infections grew multiple organisms, most commonly involving coagulase-negative staphylococcus and enterococcus. Conclusions Our findings indicate that thoracolumbar SSI occurs at the higher end of the range cited in the literature (2-13%), which is largely based on retrospective data not subjected to the inclusivity of SSI as defined by the CDC. The three most common organisms in our analysis (S. aureus, P. acnes, E. coli) are consistent with previous reports. Staphylococcus aureus continues to be the most common causative organism and continued vigilance and searching for preventive measures need to be a high priority. This study provides Level I evidence.
Meaning Reconstruction as an Approach to Analyze Critical Dimensions of HCI Research

A critical tradition has taken hold in HCI, yet research methods needed to meaningfully engage with critical questions in the qualitative tradition are nascent. In this paper, we explore one critical qualitative research approach that allows researchers to probe deeply into the relationships between communicative acts and social structures. Meaning reconstruction methods are described and illustrated using examples from HCI research, demonstrating how social norms can be traced as they are claimed and reproduced. We conclude with implications for strengthening rigorous critical inquiry in HCI research, including the use of extant critical research methods to document transparency and thick description.
Accounting Hypothesis Research of Human Resource

Accounting hypothesis is the logic basement of accounting theory system.There are many mistakes in accounting hypothesis of human resource,such as unclear of the concept of accounting hypothesis,confuse of accounting hypothesis and accounting basic concepts,confuse of accounting hypothesis and accounting rules,deny the particularity of human resource accounting,confuse the function of accounting hypothesis and accounting reports,quality problem of researcher itself.If we make new system arrangement of accounting measurement of human resource,we may have new annotation to the four traditional accounting hypotheses.
From hero to zero: The manifestation of addictive problematic sexual behaviour

Introduction Addiction refers to a pattern of: – loss of control, as shown by unsuccessful efforts to stop the behaviour; – continuation of the behaviour despite adverse consequences – such as marriage breakdown; – an obsession with obtaining, using or recovering from the behaviour. To date, DSM-5 does not recognize sex addiction as a disorder, however when problematic sexual behaviours fulfil these same three criteria, the process is considered to be an addiction. This case report describes the development of problematic addictive sexual behaviour, possibly as a result of other psychiatric comorbidities including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), alvinophilia, and obsessional fetishism. The presence of the Madonna-Puttana syndrome is also explored. Aims To use the biopsychosocial model to investigate the aetiology of addictive problematic sexual behaviour. To explore the role of psychiatric comorbidities in the expression of such behaviour. To examine the holistic impact of sexual addictions. To examine the treatment modalities of addictive problematic sexual behaviour. Methods A 25 year old happily-married nurse who confessed to serial extramarital affairs was interviewed. Underlying psychiatric comorbidities were identified. Family members were also interviewed for a collateral history. The above objectives were explored and the response to various treatment modalities were evaluated. Literature reviews were carried out. Conclusions This case illustrates a form of OCD which manifested as addictive problematic sexual behaviour. The message portrayed is that hope exists for such couples once various treatment modalities are put into action.
Epidemiology analysis of public health emergencies in Anhui province from 2005 to 2011

Objective To study the epidemiological features of public health emergencies and provide scientific basis for the government to establish prevention and control strategies.Methods Descriptive epidemiology method was used to analyze the public health emergent events from 2004 to 2009 in Anhui province according to the national public health emergency reporting system.Results A total of 299 events of public health emergencies were reported from 2005 to 2011 in Anhui,with 21 291 patients and 120 deaths.There were 177 infectious events,65 food poisoning events and 49 occupational poisoning events.There was significant area difference in public health emergencies.Events reported in 2007 were the most,then declined,and kept stabilized currently.41.14% of the events occurred in schools,especially in rural primary and middle schools.The main events were infectious disease.Conclusion Public health emergencies show steady trend in Anhui province currently.The key work of prevention and control of public health emergencies should be: infectious diseases in rural primary and middle schools,food poisoning in Jianghuai areas and Huaibei areas,and occupational poisoning in Jianghuai areas.
A human source for ELF magnetic perturbations.

ABSTRACTCurrent models that frame consciousness in terms of electromagnetic field theory carry implications that have yet to be fully explored. Endogenous weak extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields are generated by ionic charge flow in axons, dendrites and synaptic transmitters. Because neural tissues are transparent to such fields, these provide the basis for the globally unifying qualities required to properly describe consciousness as a field. At the same time, however, an electromagnetic approach predicts partial transmission of this 1–100 nT field, suggesting external interactions similar to the various ELF magnetic perturbations that are linked to homeostatic and endocrine-related physiological effects. It follows that humans may represent an additional, previously unrecognized source of weak (1–10 nT) ambient ELF magnetic fields.
In situ hybridization to human chromosomes of an alkaline phosphatase-labeled centromeric probe.

The main principles that underly the use of nucleic acid probes for in situ hybridization are summar- ized. These include probe design, target preparation, hybridization formats and conditions, and signal:gener- ating systems. These principles underly the specific protocol that is described, namely the use of an akaline phosphatase-labeled cloned sequence of the alphoid repeated DNA family as a centomere probe for human chromosomes. Index Entries: In situ hybridization; centromere; chromosomes; nucleic acid probes.
Botulinum Neurotoxin, Tetanus Toxin, and Anthrax Lethal Factor Countermeasures

Bioterrorism constitutes the deliberate release and dissemination of biological agents to incapacitate, maim, or kill individuals, groups, or populations, including humans, animals, and/or plants, in acts of terrorism. When carried out in the context of war, these acts are also termed biological warfare. Agents can be of bacterial, fungal, or plant origin; bacterial toxins are of particular concern as bioweapons due to their ease of production and weaponization, and their high level of toxicity to humans. Most macromolecular toxin-based biowarfare agents are metalloenzymes, featuring a catalytic metal in their active site(s) that is chiefly responsible for proteolytic activity leading to host cytotoxicity. This chapter outlines recent work on three metalloenzyme toxin types which exhibit high potential for deployment as bioterror agents: the botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), the tetanus toxin (TeNT, also known as tetanospasmin), and the anthrax toxin lethal factor (LF). All of these enzymes are deadly to humans; additionally, they are challenging to detect, and their toxic effects are difficult to treat. Although a great deal of research effort in this area has resulted in key steps forward that are discussed here, reliable and effective post-exposure countermeasures to these toxins remain elusive. A comprehensive national security and anti-bioterrorism strategy in the twenty-first century must therefore prioritize continuing research to combat these threats.
REFERENCE NUCLEAR DATA AND NUCLEAR DATA CENTERS

Abstract Reference nuclear data are well-documented, widely available, and critically evaluated data (1). They are evaluated by scientists who are expert in their fields. From these critical evaluations, other quantities may be derived which cover the full spectrum of uses. While there are many evaluations in the limited regions of neutron, nuclear structure, and decay data, most areas of nuclear physics have not been adequately covered by evaluation efforts. There is also a problem in the time intervals between some evaluations. Therefore, it is usually necessary for these reference data to be augmented by bibliographies and compilations of experimental data. So, for the purposes of this chapter, we will expand the definition of reference data to include the systematic compilation of data and indexing of references.
Isosmotic is not always isotonic: the five-minute version.

what is the difference between osmolarity and tonicity? Recently, I was tasked with explaining this in 5 min at the 2016 annual meeting of the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS). The HAPS conference now highlights a new presentation session called Synapse, which is run PechaKucha-style ([4
Talking about Regulation: Political Discourse and Regulatory Gridlock

Since most Americans understand public policy debates through policy framing that organizes and simplifies policy information, political interests compete by framing their arguments in ways that feed into this cognitive tendency of voters. Using a short history of government regulation, this essay demonstrates that government proponents and opponents use policy framing that employs some form of the two basic concepts of liberty identified by Isaiah Berlin – positive and negative liberty. The essay also analyzes the policy framing used in the recent election, which fits this pattern. The essay concludes by considering why opponents of government, despite a number of political advantages identified in the essay, have been unable to dislodge the administrative state in any fundamental manner over the years using their version of policy framing.
Handheld dual fluorescence and reflection spectroscopy system for monitoring topical low dose ALA-PDT of actinic keratoses (AK)

Photodynamic therapy is an effective, minimally invasive skin cancer treatment modality with few side effects. Improved therapeutic selectivity and efficacy is expected if treatment is optimized individually for each patient based on detailed measurements prior and during the treatment. The handheld system presented allows measuring optical properties of the skin, the rate of photosensitizer photobleaching during the ALA PDT and oxygen saturation in the tissue. The photobleaching rate is monitored using fluorescence spectroscopy, where protoporphyrin IX in tissue is exited by 410 nm (blue) or 532 nm (green) laser light, and fluorescence in the 580-800 nm range is monitored. The photobleaching rate is calculated by correlating the measured spectrum with known protoporphyrin IX, photoproduct and nonspecific tissue autofluorescence spectra using correlation analysis. Double-wavelength excitation allows a rough estimation of the depth of the fluorescence source due to the significant difference in penetration depth for blue and green light. Blood concentration and oxygenation in the tissue are found from the white light reflectance spectrum in the 460-800 nm range. Known spectra for the oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin, melanin, and tissue baseline absorption and tissue scattering are substituted in nonlinear equations to find the penetration depth and diffuse reflectance coefficient. The nonlinear equation for the diffuse reflectance coefficient is solved for blood and melanin concentrations and blood oxygenation values that provide the best fit to the measured spectrum. The optical properties of the tissue obtained from the reflectance spectroscopy are used to correct the fluorescence data. A noncontact probe with 5 fibers (3 excitation and 2 detection) focused to the same 5 mm diameter spot: 2 excitation lasers, a white light lamp and a two-channel spectrometer are used. A LabView program with custom nonlinear equation solvers written in C++ automatically performs the measurements and calculations, and writes data to a database. The system is currently used in a clinical trial to find the relationship between skin pigmentation, oxygen saturation in blood, photobleaching rate and optimal fluence rate for skin cancer treatment of actinic keratoses.
A Robotic Path Planner Contender

This article presents a novel offline path planner method to yield a collision-free trajectory among groups of obstacles in a static workspace. It enables a single holonomic point robot acting in a static environment including a fixed initial and goal configurations to achieve its goal toward a collision-free trajectory. In developing our novel path planner, we focused to elevate features that help the planner to route in a wide variety of different situations in regards to lowering the processing time needed for analyzing the workspace and determination of ultimate trajectory. Unlike to some other planners that are able to be applied on some certain obstacle shales such as polygonal, our planner is skillful enough to analyze any types of obstacles, such as circular, spiral, and curved edged obstacles successfully. To increase the performance of our proposed offline path planner, we defined and benefitted from introduction of parameters that help to achieve the best possible results among different scenarios in workspace components arrangements as well as reducing the planner needing to access system resources such as memory or processing unit to analyze the workspace while computing the shortest collision-free path from start point to the goal configuration. The novel planner analyses and transforms the two dimensional representation of the environment into a roadmap consisting a graph of nodes along with all possible routes from the moving robot’s initial point into the goal configuration. In order to manage some of the popular problems such as being trapped inside a U-shaped obstacle or routing in narrow pathways among obstacles, that challenge other offline path planners such as Potential Field planner are facing, we used a multi-layer approach in form of different stages to help the planner considering all possible circumstances and hence, compute the best possible route.
Muslim Americans’ Responses to Social Identity Threats: Effects of Media Representations and Experiences of Discrimination

ABSTRACTDirect and indirect social identity threats can influence stigmatized individuals to seek identity management strategies that restore a positive sense of social identity. The current study examined the effects of media representations and self-reported experiences of discrimination on Muslim American students’ identity management strategies. Results revealed that Muslim American students who viewed negative media representations of their religious ingroup, relative to a control video, were less likely to desire acceptance by other Americans and more likely to avoid interactions with majority members. Additionally, self-reported experiences of discrimination significantly and positively influenced a desire for collective action. These results reveal the powerful effects of media representations and discrimination in threatening minority group members’ social identity and exacerbating negative intergroup relations between majority and minority groups.
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Post-stroke Chronic Aphasia: The Impact of Baseline Severity and Task Specificity in a Pilot Sample

Emerging evidence suggests that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can improve aspects of language production in persons with chronic non-fluent aphasia due to left hemisphere stroke. However, to date, studies exploring factors that predict response to tDCS in this or any patient population remain sparse, as are studies that investigate the specific aspects of language performance that are most responsive to stimulation. The current study explored factors that could predict recovery of language fluency and which aspects of language fluency could be expected to improve with the identified factor(s). We report nine patients who demonstrated deficits in fluency as assessed using the Cookie Theft picture description task of the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination. In the treatment condition, subjects received a 2.0mA current through 5cmx5cm electrodes for 20min at a site previously shown to elicit a patient-dependent optimal response to tDCS. They were then tested 2-weeks and 2-months after treatment. In the sham condition, a subset of these subjects were tested on the same protocol with sham instead of real tDCS. The current study assessed language fluency improvements in measures of production at the word-level and sentence level, grammatical accuracy, and lexical selection as a function of baseline aphasia severity. A more severe baseline language profile was associated with larger improvements in fluency at the word-level after real tDCS but not sham stimulation. These improvements were maintained at the 2-week follow-up. The results suggest that for at least some outcome measures, baseline severity may be an important factor in predicting the response to tDCS in patients with chronic non-fluent aphasia. Moving forward, the ability to identify patient factors that can predict response could help refine strategies for the administration of therapeutic tDCS, focusing attention on those patients most likely to benefit from stimulation.
Novel approach to maxillary reconstruction using osteocutaneous free tissue transfer with a customized stent.

Background Computer-guided 3D virtual planning and customized templates are novel and effective methods aiding maxillary reconstruction, particularly during osteocutaneous free tissue transfer of complex defects. However, virtual planning and modelling is often expensive. Methods We present a new method to reconstruct complex defects with a surgical stent designed from presurgical casts. We present 2 patients who underwent this technique. Reconstruction in both cases was aided by a surgical stent fashioned preoperatively to approximate the anatomic dimensions of the defect, guiding the shape and orientation of the flap during inset to aid in dental rehabilitation. Results Surgery was performed without evidence of malocclusion, oronasal separation, or osteoradionecrosis with both patients undergoing successful rehabilitation and showing good postoperative oral intake. Conclusion Utilization of our novel surgical stent allowed reconstruction of complex maxillectomy defects and facilitated the design of a reconstructive flap without the need of pre-bent plates, cutting guides, or associated expenses.
Effects of Fruit Maturity, Storage, Presoaking, and Seed Cleaning on Germination in Three Species of Palms

Green, half ripe and ripe fruit of queen [Arecastrum romanzoffianum (Cham.) Becc.], pygmy date (Phoenix roebelenii O'Brien) and royla palms [Roystonea regia (HBK) O. F. Cook] were cleaned or left uncleaned and were presoaked in 1000 mg/1 gibberellic acid (GA,) for 48 hr, water for 48 hr, were not presoaked. Queen palm seed germinated best if cleaned green or half-ripe seed was used, but pygmy date and royal palm seed germinated best when cleaned half-ripe or ripe seed was used. Cleaned seed of these palms can be stored in sealed polyethylene bags at 23°C (73°F) for 4 to 9 months. Depending on the species, and royal palm seed benefited from storage of up to 9 months, presumably due to immature seed embryos at time of harvest.
Boxer’s Fractures

Boxer’s fractures are fractures of the ring or small metacarpal neck that typically occur following an axial impact with a clenched fist. The deformity is most often apex dorsal. There may be a rotational component involved, which must be assessed. These injuries are usually able to be treated nonoperatively with closed reduction and casting; however, if reduction cannot be held or if the fracture is open, operative intervention such as CRPP or ORIF may be indicated.
ϒ measurements in p+p, p+Au and Au+Au collisions at sNN=200GeV with the STAR experiment

Abstract In these proceedings, we present the latest ϒ measurements with the STAR experiment. The production cross-section in p+p and the nuclear modification factor RpA in p+Au collisions at s NN = 200 GeV are obtained via the dielectron channel. These measurements provide a p+p reference with significantly improved precision and quantification of the cold nuclear matter effects for ϒ measurements in heavy-ion collisions at RHIC. The nuclear modification factor RAA in Au+Au collisions at s NN = 200 GeV is obtained via both the dimuon and dielectron channels. The centrality and transverse momentum dependences of ϒ ( 1 S ) and ϒ ( 2 S + 3 S ) RAA are reported and compared to those at the LHC and theoretical calculations.
External gear pumps operating with non-Newtonian fluids: Modelling and experimental validation

Abstract External Gear Pumps are used in various industries to pump non-Newtonian viscoelastic fluids like plastics, paints, inks, etc. For both design and analysis purposes, it is often a matter of interest to understand the features of the displacing action realized by meshing of the gears and the description of the behavior of the leakages for this kind of pumps. However, very limited work can be found in literature about methodologies suitable to model such phenomena. This article describes the technique of modelling external gear pumps that operate with non-Newtonian fluids. In particular, it explains how the displacing action of the unit can be modelled using a lumped parameter approach which involves dividing fluid domain into several control volumes and internal flow connections. This work is built upon the HYGESim simulation tool, conceived by the authors’ research team in the last decade, which is for the first time extended for the simulation of non-Newtonian fluids. The article also describes several comparisons between simulation results and experimental data obtained from numerous experiments performed for validation of the presented methodology. Finally, operation of external gear pump with fluids having different viscosity characteristics is discussed.
Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension

Primary hypertension and diabetes mellitus are often coexisting chronic conditions, in the background of obesity and the metabolic syndrome. When untreated, or insufficiently treated, both diseases predispose to renal and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Gauging public awareness and interest related to pancreatic cancer: An analysis of Google search volumes.

250Background: Over the last 2 decades, the internet has become a major source of medical information. Infoveillance, i.e., public health surveillance using online content analysis has become a pow...
SOME REMARKS ON RINGS WITH SOLVABLE UNITS

Publisher Summary This chapter presents some remarks on rings with solvable units. The condition that a ring has a solvable group of units does not in general seem to yield much further information about the ring. Many diverse examples can be given in which the group of units is Abelian. It is found that if one assumes that there is a reasonable richness of units, then additional information can be obtained. With such assumptions, there seems to be a relation between solvability and commutativity related conditions on the ring. In the case of an Artinian ring R with a solvable group, the result of Eldridge on the structure of R modulo, its radical shows that R must satisfy a polynomial identity, some power of the standard identity of degree four. The results show that for a semi-prime ring, any solvable normal subgroup of units must commute element wise with all idempotents.
Detecting Intruders in Complex Environments with Limited Range Mobile Sensors

This paper examines the problem of detecting intruders in large multiply-connected environments with multiple robots and limited range sensors. We divide the problem into two sub-problems: 1) partitioning of the environment and 2) a new problem called weighted graph clearing. We reduce the latter to weighted tree clearing and present a solution for finding paths for the robot team that ensure the detection of all intruders with a proven upper bound on the number of robots needed. This is followed by a practical performance analysis.
The effectiveness of a dental/dietitian team in the assessment of bulimic dental health

Individuals with bulimia nervosa have been found to experience a variety of dental complications. Because of purging behaviors and erratic food consumption, the oral manifestations of bulimia frequently include irreversible enamel erosion, xerostomia, and oral mucosal irritation. A pilot study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the dental/dietitian team in assessing the dental health of individuals with bulimia. Control and bulimic subjects were compared. The results demonstrated a significantly different (p