cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimating the Clinical and Economic Impact of Maintaining use of 13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13) in Mexico

Background PCV13 replaced 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in the routine infant immunization schedule in Mexico since 2011. The use of PCV13 has reduced pneumococcal disease incidence for vaccine serotypes, particularly 19A, which emerged following PCV7 use. The 10-valent vaccine (PCV10) contains the same serotypes as PCV13 with the exception of serotypes 3, 19A and 6A but also has different conjugated proteins for the common serotypes. This study evaluated the potential health and economic implications of switching from PCV13 to PCV10 in Mexico.
Lessons from the Judicial Reaction to the Regulation of Chinese Laundries, 1860s to 1930s

This article discusses hostile regulation of Chinese laundries in the American West from the 1860s to the early twentieth century. Anti-Chinese laundry laws generally took one of four forms: licensing legislation, maximum hours laws, zoning ordinances, and taxation. These laws were almost always facially neutral. The laundrymen challenged dozens of laundry ordinances in court. State courts faced with legal challenges by Chinese laundrymen to laundry regulations generally upheld the laws on police power grounds, but federal courts usually invalidated them. Some of the latter opinions preceded the infamous Lochner case by decades, but anticipated Lochner's reasoning and rhetoric. In Lochner, decided in 1905, the Supreme Court invalidated a law that restricted the hours bakers could work. The opinion ushered in an era in which the Court actively reviewed economic regulations to ensure that did not impinge on freedom of contract without valid justification. Traditional legal scholarship has criticized Lochnerian jurisprudence on three grounds: (1) judicial protection of economic liberties during the Lochner era was based on the reactionary political views of the judges involved; (2) courts invalidated progressive legislation meant to reign in corporate power and ameliorate the plight of the poor and vulnerable; and, (3) Lochnerism helped the wealthy and powerful at the expense of the rest of society, especially the poor and members of minority groups. The history of the anti-Chinese laundry laws contradicts the received wisdom. First, pro-Chinese laundry decisions fail to reveal economic class bias, but do show the courts' commitment to natural rights/free labor theory and opposition to "class legislation." Second, the history discussed in this paper provides evidence that much regulatory legislation was neither wise nor humane, but anti-competitive and discriminatory. And, third, in the laundry cases Lochnerism protected the vulnerable and disenfranchised Chinese from hostile regulations.
The libelli of Lucca, Biblioteca Arcivescovile, MS 5: liturgy from the siege of Acre?

Lucca MS 5 offers insight into the life experiences and liturgical practices of diverse Latin-rite communities living in the twelfth-century patriarchate of Jerusalem and is particularly relevant t...
Readiness to recognize: A qualitative case study of educational identification of TBI.

BACKGROUND The educational identification (ED-ID) of students with traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been legislated in numerous states, and TBI has become its own special education category. Questions abound as to whether these changes will lead to more readily identifying these students to provide appropriate special education supports. OBJECTIVE Elucidate one state's response to legislative changes around ED-ID of TBI. METHODS This is a phenomenological case study of nine school districts in one state. Researchers conducted focus groups as well as individual interviews with various special education staff. On-going analysis of the focus group and interview data occurred, until themes were finalized. RESULTS Reactions of staff comprised two opposing viewpoints: those supporting and carrying out ED-ID ("Toward ED-ID") and those describing processes and attitudes that stand in the way ("Barriers"). Themes that were supportive of ED-ID include Credible History, Personnel, Targeted Intervention, Effective Communication, and Education. Themes aligned with the barrier viewpoint include Concussion Protocols, Medical Nature, Misidentification, Stigma, and Communication Breakdown. CONCLUSION While many districts reported success with ED-ID for TBI, responses to the ED-ID legislation and TBI category were mixed, with enough barriers identified to cause concern over whether the legislative and policy changes have been overall beneficial.
Building an Antibiotic Stewardship Program: An Interactive Teaching Module for Medical Students

Introduction Given the increasing importance of antibiotic stewardship, an understanding of the basic tenets of antibiotic prescribing is critical for all medical students. This engaged learning mo...
Molecular Biology of Plant Growth and Development

Plant development differs from animal development in several fundamental respects. Since plant cells are immobilized in a rigid cell wall, morphogenesis is dependent upon control of cell growth and plane of cell division, rather than cell migration as occurs in animal development. The meristematic cells of plants display a degree of plasticity not found in animal cells; they remain embryonic throughout the life of the plant and produce both adult organs and germ cells. Furthermore, individual differentiated cells from vegetative plant parts are able to dedifferentiate and regenerate into new, fertile plants.
Eye Fixation Durations in Reading: Models of Frequency Distributions

Abstract Quantitative versions of three models of fixation-duration frequency distributions are presented: those proposed by Suppes (1989), McConkie, Kerr and Dyre (1994) and a modified version of that proposed by Harris, Hainline, Abramov, Lemerise and Camenzuli (1988). These, plus two additional versions of the Harris et al. model, were fit to a large set of eye-movement data from a group of adult readers. The McConkie et al. model fit the data best, though the fit appears to result primarily from the functions used rather than from the architecture proposed.
Chapter 8 – Cross-examination: The Expert’s Challenge and the Lawyers’ Strategies

The media presents numerous examples of the courtroom process involving cross-examination of witnesses, both layman and expert. Most of the scenes are overly dramatic and void of a basis in factual law and practice; but they are very entertaining. An expert in the real world needs to know the facts and myths regarding what can and cannot happen during cross-examination. Rules of evidence have little to do with “cross ex,” as most questioning from opposing counsel is allowed with few exceptions. There is some case law that touches on some aspects of questioning, but in a courtroom phase where the expert has no control over the subject matter. This is partially why cross-examination seems so scary and stressful for some participants. The fear of the unknown may tend to explain their wariness on the matter. It actually is a result of inadequate study and practice by the expert. It is important for the forensic expert to understand the legal goals lawyers have, how they research and the finite strategies lawyers use to perform their interrogation of the expert trial witness. Experts with broader training will learn to anticipate what will usually happen before even sitting in the witness stand.
Where no planetary protection policy has gone before

I argue that the attempts of astrobiologists and philosophers to provide an ethical justification for planetary protection policies (in particular, those aspects of policy concerning forward contamination) suffer from a ‘life bias’ in that reasons for protection are regarded as genuinely ethical only when they include some kind of direct moral consideration for extraterrestrial life. There are, I maintain, good reasons for the protection of space environments, including the protection of sites of interest to disciplines other than astrobiology. These reasons are no less ethical simply because their aim is something other than the protection of extraterrestrial life. While the possible existence of such reasons has been recognized, they have yet to be developed in a philosophically satisfying way. This paper aims to fill this lacuna by motivating and articulating an ethical perspective which recommends broader protection of the space environment. Long-range implications for such a broadening of planetary protection are considered, including implications for interstellar exploration.
Improving Library User Experience: Wi-Fi Network Assessment

Librarians have been seeking solutions to improve library user experience. The popularity of mobile devices leads to the increasing demand for reliable and efficient wireless communication in libra...
Copulas and their Applications in Water Resources Engineering

Complex environmental and hydrological processes are characterized by more than one correlated random variable. These events are multivariate and their treatment requires multivariate frequency analysis. Traditional analysis methods are, however, too restrictive and do not apply in many cases. Recent years have therefore witnessed numerous applications of copulas to multivariate hydrologic frequency analyses. This book describes the basic concepts of copulas, and outlines current trends and developments in copula methodology and applications. It includes an accessible discussion of the methods alongside simple step-by-step sample calculations. Detailed case studies with real-world data are included, and are organized based on applications, such as flood frequency analysis and water quality analysis. Illustrating how to apply the copula method to multivariate frequency analysis, engineering design, and risk and uncertainty analysis, this book is ideal for researchers, professionals and graduate students in hydrology and water resources engineering.
Inhaled Cyclosporine-Based Immunosuppression Regimen for Lung Transplant Associated Malignancy

Purpose The clinical outcome of lung transplantation has improved markedly over the last three decades after the introduction of calcineurin inhibitors. However, one of its main disadvantages appears to be calcineurin-related adverse effects including malignancy, infection and nephrotoxicity. We sought strategies to maintain lung function while decreasing the effects of systemic immunosuppression for patients who develop cancer after lung transplantation. Methods Fourteen patients were treated with propylene glycol inhaled cyclosporine at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) between February 2013 and October 2017 after cancer diagnosis, at the discretion of their lung transplant physician on a compassionate use basis. The cancers that occurred were metastatic lung (n=1), extensive/metastatic skin cancer (n=10), extensive PTLD (n=3). Results FEV1 remained stable over the twelve-month study intervals; baseline median 2.33 L/sec (IQR 1.75-2.60, n=14); three month 2.21 (1.70-2.51, n=14); six month 2.44 (IQR 1.97-2.58, n=11); twelve month 2.40 (IQR 1.98-2.88, n=9); p=0.59. CNI exposure were reduced from 6.8 (IQR 2.7-8.0) to 4.1 (IQR 3.4-4.6) at 12 month after starting inhaled cyclosporine. Cr remained stable during the follow-up with baseline 1.25 mg/dl (1.00-1.26), three month 1.40mg/dl (1.07-1.85), six month 1.34mg/dl (1.08-1.72) and twelve months 1.50mg/dl (1.33-1.62) after inhaled cyclosporine initiation; p=0.18. Conclusion Inhaled cyclosporine-based immunosuppression regimen is associated with stability of lung function in lung transplant recipients receiving reduced immunosuppression after diagnosis of malignancy
Ten simple rules for giving an effective academic job talk

You’ve finally completed your dissertation research and have your PhD in hand—yay! Maybe you’re also in the middle of a postdoctoral position. If you’re reading this article, chances are you are actively searching for and applying for faculty positions. (Check out reference [1] if you’re early in the application process and [2] for additional advice!) Unfortunately, many graduate students and postdocs are not taught the skills necessary for acquiring a faculty position after passing the “looks good on paper” part of the application and securing an on-campus interview. One of the last crucial steps in earning a faculty position is your academic job talk. No matter how great of a scientist you are, if you cannot give a compelling job talk, chances are low that you will be hired. Yet many candidates receive little guidance on how to ace this unique and vital test. To help address this gap, we have put together these ten simple rules that will help you give an effective job talk. To be clear, these are rules developed for the academic job talk in a research-heavy department, which is typically in a seminar format. These rules are not targeted toward other formats such as chalk talks or teaching demonstrations, although some pointers may still apply. We are a group primarily composed of University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) faculty, postdocs, and graduate students who participated in two recent job searches in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department. We evaluated ten job talks over the span of 2 months and discussed their strengths and weaknesses in a weekly seminar course. These ten rules are based on our discussions of what worked (and what didn’t) across the variety of job talks we observed, as well as our various experiences on the job market and search committees over the years.
Prospective Comparison of Available Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty Sizing Equations

Abstract Background Several studies have proposed regression equations that can increase the accuracy of predicting femur and tibia component sizes for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study compared available regression equations in their ability to prospectively predict component size in a unique patient series. Methods Demographic data and implanted femur and tibia TKA component sizes were collected on a consecutive 382 patients undergoing index TKA. Equations by Bhowmik-Stoker et al, Ren et al, Sershon et al, and Miller et al were identified that used age, race, ethnicity, gender, height, weight, or body mass index. Equation outputs were converted to implant-corrected sizes and compared to the implanted component. Results Femur and tibia sizes were accurately predicted within 1 size 88% and 92%, 84% and 86%, and 79% and 92% for Bhowmik-Stoker et al, Sershon et al, and Miller et al, respectively. Ren et al was within 1 tibia size 88% of the time. Adding one more common implant size improved this accuracy by an average of 9.1% and 6.6% for the femur and tibia, respectively. For femur components, Bhowmik-Stoker et al outperformed Sershon et al by 0.14 sizes (P Conclusion Equations by Bhowmik-Stoker et al more accurately predicted implanted TKA size. In cases of greater uncertainty, the practicing surgeon may err on having more common TKA sizes available.
Non-Equilibrium Mass Exchange in AOT Reverse Micelles

Reverse micelles (RMs) composed of water and sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT) in isooctane have a remarkably narrow size distribution around a mean value determined by the water loading ratio of the system. It has been proposed that RMs establish this equilibrium size distribution either by the diffusion of individual components through the isooctane phase or by cycles of fusion and fission. To examine these mechanisms, a 24 μs all-atom molecular dynamics simulation of a system containing one small RM and one large RM was performed. Results show that the net movement of water from the small RM to the large RM occurred in a direction that made the small RM smaller and the large RM larger-according to water loading ratios that would have been appropriate for their size. Changes in AOT number that would bring the water loading ratio of each RM closer to that of the overall system only occurred via cycles of RM fusion and fission. These behaviors are most likely driven by the electrostatics of sodium AOT and the dielectric effects of water.
Physical Determinants of Fluid-Feeding in Insects

Fluid feeders represent more than half of the world’s insect species. We review current understanding of the physics of fluid-feeding, from the perspective of wetting, capillarity, and fluid mechanics. We feature butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) as representative fluid-feeding insects. Fluid uptake by live butterflies is experimentally explained based on X-ray imaging and high-speed optical microscopy and is augmented by modeling and by mechanical and physicochemical characterization of biomaterials. Wetting properties of the lepidopteran proboscis are reviewed, and a classification of proboscis morphology and wetting characteristics is proposed. The porous and fibrous structure of the mouthparts is important in determining the dietary habits of fluid-feeding insects. The fluid mechanics of liquid uptake by insects cannot be explained by a simple Hagen–Poiseuille flow scenario of a drinking-straw model. Fluid-feeding insects expend muscular energy in moving fluid through the proboscis or through the sucking pump, depending primarily on the ratio of the proboscis length to the food canal diameter. A general four-step model of fluid-feeding is proposed, which involves wetting, dewetting, absorbing, and pumping. The physics of fluid-feeding is important for understanding the evolution of sucking mouthparts and, consequently, insect diversification through development of new fluid-feeding habits.
A dual pass mortar approach for unbiased constraints and self-contact

Abstract A dual pass stabilized mortar contact and mesh tying method is proposed. The method is fully symmetric in that no bias is made when choosing the multiplier space. Using a mesh dependent norm, the approach is shown to satisfy an inf–sup stability condition which is used to develop an a-priori error estimator for the bilateral constraint condition. The method was implemented for 3-D and is applicable to contact constraints with normal pressures and tied constraints with surface tractions. The addition of stabilization requires some special attention to show that the inequality constraints are treatable according to the standard KKT conditions. In fact, it is shown that the proposed scheme is equivalent to a particular form of intermediate surface constraint method. The examples compare the standard single surface mortar with the dual pass approach when applicable. Several sensitivity studies of the stabilization parameter are included in the results. A number of examples include nonlinear kinematics, plasticity and self-contact and all performed well for the proposed approach.
Bystander Intervention in Bullying: Differences Across Latent Profiles

The current study used latent profile analysis to find subgroups of youth based on bullying participant roles and then compared subgroups on the five bystander intervention steps (Notice, Interpret as an emergency, Accept Responsibility, Know how to Intervene, and Act). The sample included 641 fourth–eighth grade students (44.6% boys) who completed two self-report measures of their bullying role involvement and engagement in the five steps of the bystander intervention model. A four-class solution emerged in the latent profile analysis: Victimized Defenders (VD, 46% of the sample, high scores on victim and defender roles), Moderate Involvement (MI, 46% of the sample, involved in all five bullying roles), Bully-Victim-Defenders (BVD, 6%, high scores on bully, victim, and defender), and High Involvement (HI, 2%, high levels of involvement in all roles). These four classes were compared in terms of self-reported engagement in the bystander intervention process. A notable finding is that Victimized Defenders had the lowest level of all bystander steps. A discussion of the findings and directions for future research is provided.
Risk and uncertainty in team building: Evidence from a professional basketball market

Abstract While recent surveys suggest that team oriented production has become commonplace within the production process, its impact on worker productivity is less clear. Both the theoretical and empirical literature highlight the disparate effects working in teams may have worker productivities. The present paper investigates how well management is able to internalize these uncertain effects. Using National Basketball Association game-by-game data over 36 seasons, we estimate each team’s ex-post labor portfolio and find that, beginning in the mid-1990s, NBA teams are able to reduce their portfolio’s performance risk. Further the timing of the reduction coincides with the rise in basketball analytics.
Racial differences in the incidence of atrial fibrillation after cryptogenic stroke

Background The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) is lower in nonwhites than in whites despite a higher burden of AF risk factors. However, the incidence of new AF after cryptogenic stroke in minorities is unknown. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of AF after cryptogenic stroke in different racial/ethnic groups. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 416 consecutive patients undergoing insertable cardiac monitor implantation at our hospital from 2014 through 2019. Incidence of AF was identified through the review of device monitoring, including adjudication of AF episodes for accuracy, and compared by race. Results The mean follow-up time was 1.5 ± 1.1 years. The predominantly nonwhite cohort included 244 (59%) blacks and 109 (26%) Hispanics, and 45% (n=189) were male. The mean age was 62 ± 12 years; Blacks and Hispanics had more hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease and higher body mass index than did whites. In blacks and Hispanics, the cumulative incidences of AF at 1, 2, and 3 years were 14.1%, 19.9%, and 24% and 12.9%, 18.3%, and 20.9%, respectively. By comparison, the incidence in whites was significantly higher: 20.8%, 34.3%, and 40.3%. In a Cox proportional hazards model adjusting for common AF risk factors, blacks (hazard ratio 0.49; confidence interval 0.26–0.82; P = .03) and Hispanics (hazard ratio 0.39; confidence interval 0.18–0.83; P = .01) were less likely to have incident AF than whites. Conclusion In patients with an insertable cardiac monitor after cryptogenic stroke, the incidence of newly detected AF is approximately double in whites compared with both blacks and Hispanics. This has important implications for the investigation and treatment of nonwhites with cryptogenic stroke.
Diagnosis and Staging of Bladder Cancer

Cystoscopic examination remains the gold standard technique for initial diagnosis of bladder cancer (BCa). Despite significant progress in enhanced cystoscopic techniques, blue light cystoscopy and narrow band imaging are the only ones well supported by high-level evidence and, if available, should be used during initial staging of BCa. Multiparametric MRI could be an important imaging tool in local staging of BCa. With ever-expanding targeted therapy and immunotherapy options in both muscle-invasive and non-muscle-invasive BCa, molecular subtyping could become an essential part of initial histologic staging in the near future.
Diabetes Technology Use in Remote Pediatric Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Using Clinic-to-Clinic Telemedicine.

Background: Clinic-to-clinic telemedicine can increase visit frequency in pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) living far from a diabetes specialty clinic, but the impact on adoption of di...
Postpartum depression screening: Treatment engagement, barriers to care, and change in depressive symptoms.

Background Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common condition associated with childbirth, yet many women do not receive the treatment they need. Despite the growing practice of PPD screening, treatment and clinical outcomes among patients identified as likely having PPD remain unclear. Method Women who were systematically screened and scored ≥12 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)-indicative of possible PPD-at their routine 6-week postpartum visit were eligible to participate and were contacted after 3 months for a follow-up interview and assessment. Results A total of 33 women participated in the study, out of 100 who scored ≥12 on the EPDS. Among the participants, 70% reported they received a referral to a health care provider for PPD, and nearly one-half said that they received psychotherapy and/or were prescribed a psychotropic. The 2 most commonly described barriers to treatment were perceptions of not needing or wanting help and concerns about breastfeeding while taking psychotropics. Nearly 40% of women scored ≥12 on the EPDS at the follow-up interview. Conclusions Further systematic research on outcomes after PPD screening is needed to ensure that screening translates into meaningfully improved clinical outcomes.
Chapter 5 Biochemistry and regulation of photosynthetic pigment formation in plants and algae

Publisher Summary A great diversity of naturally occurring tetrapyrroles is found among plants and algae. These species share with other organisms the need for heme-containing cytochromes and oxidases, and in addition, employ tetrapyrroles as pigments for the photosynthetic processes of trapping light energy and converting it to chemical energy. The tetrapyrrole pigments that are characteristic of plant and algal species fall into two structural groups: Mg-containing closed-macrocycle chlorophylls and their structural relatives, and open-macrocycle bilins. The chapter focuses on the biosynthesis of chlorophylls and bilins, along with a limited discussion of plant and algal hemes. The earliest well-characterized precursor that is committed to the tetrapyrrole pathway is ALA. A major branch point occurs at protoporphyrin IX, the last common intermediate leading to both the chlorophylls and the other major products. Another important branch point occurs at protoheme, which is the last common intermediate leading to both other hemes and the phycobilins (including the phytochrorne chromophore). A third branch point occurs at uroporphyrinogen III, the last common intermediate that leads to siroheme and the corrinoids.
Temporal View Self-Maintenance

View self-maintenance refers to maintaining materialized views without accessing base data. Self-maintenance is particularly useful in data warehousing settings, where base data comes from sources that may be inaccessible. Self-maintenance has been studied for nontemporal views, but is even more important when a warehouse stores temporal views over the history of source data, since the source history needed to perform view maintenance may no longer exist. This paper tackles the self-maintenance problem for temporal views. We show how to derive auxiliary data to be stored at the warehouse so that the warehouse views and auxiliary data can be maintained without accessing the sources. The temporal view self-maintenance problem is considerably harder than the nontemporal case because a temporal view may need to be maintained not only when source data is modified but also as time advances, and these two dimensions of change interact in subtle ways. We also seek to minimize the amount of auxiliary data required, taking into account different source capabilities and update constraints that are common in temporal warehousing scenarios. While our framework and algorithms are presented using a true temporal data model, our results apply directly to the ad-hoc temporal support (i.e., timestamp attributes in the standard relational model) commonly found in data warehouses today.
Learning as a Path, Not a Goal: Contemplative Pedagogy – Its Principles and Practices

What is contemplative pedagogy and how is it practiced in Religious Studies classrooms? Contemplative pedagogy cultivates inner awareness through first-person investigations, often called “contemplative practices.” Contemplative teaching practices range widely: silent sitting meditation, compassion practices, walking meditation, deep listening, mindfulness, yoga, calligraphy, chant, guided meditations, nature observation, self-inquiry, and many others. Since narrative is a mode of instruction prevalent in contemplative literature, the article includes first-hand reflections from students and a narrative account of how an initially skeptical professor came to incorporate contemplative teaching methods into her courses. It expands from the personal narratives to highlight the work of many contemplative professors in the field. These real-life examples are put into the context of recent publications on shifts in higher education and meditation research. The article seeks to demonstrate the power of contemplative teaching to fulfill many hopes for liberal arts learning. Of particular importance is its emphasis on interior qualities of lifelong impact, such as self-knowledge and ethical cultivation.
HYDROGEN CYANIDE EMISSIONS FROM THREE-WAY CATALYST PROTOTYPES UNDER MALFUNCTIONING CONDITIONS

Measurements were made of the emissions from a prototype three-way catalyst automobile during normal and simulated malfunction driving conditions to study the effects of catalyst rhodium content and vehicle malfunction mode on the rate of hydrogen cyanide production from a three-way system vehicle. Four ceramic-supported catalyst compositions were investigated, ranging from rhodium through two mixtures of rhodium and platinum to platinum. Driving conditions included cyclic and cruise modes to investigate the effect of high-speed driving on hydrogen cyanide production. Under normal operating conditions no hydrocarbon was detected. Under rich malfunction conditions, hydrocarbon was generally observed, even in the absence of a catalyst. In some cases, catalysts appeared to remove hydrocarbon from the exhaust gas; in others they increased its level. The highest emission rate for hydrocarbon was observed for the rhodium catalyst, about 40 mg/km at 64 kph cruise. Ammonia emission levels were much higher under malfunction conditions than under normal operating conditions. Hydrogen sulfide emissions also increased under malfunction conditions.
The Impact of Change in Software on Satisfaction: Evaluation Using Critical Incident Technique (CIT)

This paper describes an exploratory study that analyzes the impact of change in software on users by utilizing the Critical Incident Technique (CIT). A total of 102 critical incidents were collected from the survey. 77 participants reported both satisfactory and unsatisfactory experiences; 22 reported only satisfactory experiences; and 3 reported only unsatisfactory experiences. Analysis of satisfactory or unsatisfactory experiences revealed several factors such as expectations of users and mismatch in the behavior between the actual and anticipated system by the users, which can be attributed to automation surprise. The important findings of this study are the agglomeration of user feedback such as, avoiding the changes themselves in the first place, focusing on the factors of change viz. amount of change, speed of change, and finally, to provide better help support, which can be used in the design process when there is a change in software.
On the Diagnosability of a General Model of System with Three-Valued Test Outcomes

The problem of diagnosability of a system with three-valued test outcomes was considered in earlier works [1]-[3]. However all these works assume the system to be modeled as in [4]. In this correspondence, we consider a more general model of the system and study the diagnosability criteria in presence of three-valued test outcomes. In this model, each unit is tested jointly by a number of other units of the system as opposed to each test being carried out by a single unit of the system as in [4]. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the diagnosability of a system under this general model have been presented in this correspondence. Throughout the correspondence, diagnosability without repair has been considered.
Adaptive boosting for transfer learning using dynamic updates

Instance-based transfer learning methods utilize labeled examples from one domain to improve learning performance in another domain via knowledge transfer. Boosting-based transfer learning algorithms are a subset of such methods and have been applied successfully within the transfer learning community. In this paper, we address some of the weaknesses of such algorithms and extend the most popular transfer boosting algorithm, TrAdaBoost. We incorporate a dynamic factor into TrAdaBoost to make it meet its intended design of incorporating the advantages of both AdaBoost and the "Weighted Majority Algorithm". We theoretically and empirically analyze the effect of this important factor on the boosting performance of TrAdaBoost and we apply it as a "correction factor" that significantly improves the classification performance. Our experimental results on several real-world datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our framework in obtaining better classification results.
The Developing Programs of Integrated Control of Pests of Apples in Washington and Peaches in California

On both apples in Washington and peaches in California pest control programs which rely solely on chemicals result in serious problems with tetranychid mites. In both cases some pests are present which have very low economic injury levels and which require use of pesticides to maintain economic control. The common practice of using preventive schedules of pesticide application has resulted in destruction of natural enemies of mites. The use of acaricides for mite control, moreover, has not been entirely satisfactory because of selection for resistance and resurgences of mite populations. (See also Chapter 1, Section III, and other chapters in Section IV.)
Climate science: Global warming and tropical carbon

An innovative use of measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide constrains the possible range of carbon–cycle responses to climate change during the twenty-first century, lowering expectations of tropical-forest dieback. See Letter p.341 In response to climate change, tropical forests may release vast amounts of carbon, accelerating the pace of further climate change. Or they may not: research to date has been conflicting and controversial. Peter Cox and colleagues now use the response of the tropical land carbon cycle to interannual climate variability to constrain the likely future response. They find that the tropics will emit 53 ± 17 gigatonnes of carbon per degree of warming, a much more muted response that suggested in previous work.
Narrow-bandwidth tunable picosecond pulses in the visible produced by noncollinear optical parametric amplification with a chirped blue pump

Narrow-bandwidth (~27 cm−1) tunable picosecond pulses from 480 nm-780 nm were generated from the output of a 1 kHz femtosecond titanium:sapphire laser system using a type I noncollinear optical parametric amplifier (NOPA) with chirped second-harmonic generation (SHG) pumping. Unlike a femtosecond NOPA, this system utilizes a broadband pump beam, the chirped 400 nm SHG of the Ti:sapphire fundamental, to amplify a monochromatic signal beam (spectrally-filtered output of a type II collinear OPA). Optimum geometric conditions for simultaneous phase- and group-velocity matching were calculated in the visible spectrum. This design is an efficient and simple method for generating tunable visible picosecond pulses that are synchronized to the femtosecond pulses.
A Porcine Model of Carotid Artery Thrombosis for Thrombolytic Therapy and Angioplasty: Application of PTFE Graft-Induced Stenosis

PURPOSE To develop a porcine carotid artery thrombosis model for the evaluation of thrombolytic therapy and adjunctive angioplasty procedures. METHODS Bilateral carotid thrombosis was induced in 16 pigs using endothelial crush injury followed by external polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, 5 x 2 cm2) wrap placement to create segmental carotid stenosis. Light microscopy was used to examine thrombus composition. Selective carotid catheterization was performed via a femoral approach. Two hours following carotid artery occlusion, a urokinase (250,000 IU) and heparin (1000 U) solution was pulse-sprayed in 1 carotid artery while the contralateral vessel received the control saline vehicle. The efficacy of thrombolytic therapy was assessed using carotid arteriography and intravascular ultrasound. The feasibility and technical efficacy of balloon angioplasty within the carotid stenosis model were also evaluated. RESULTS Carotid artery occlusion occurred in 30 +/- 6 minutes following endothelial injury plus PTFE wrap placement. Histological examination of carotid arteries showed endothelial irregularity with fibrin-rich and platelet-rich thrombus. Urokinase was effective in recanalizing all occluded arteries (100%), while the control saline vehicle showed no effective thrombolysis (p < 0.001). Angioplasty was successful in restoring normal diameter in all arteries (100%). CONCLUSIONS This carotid artery thrombosis model, which incorporates intimal injury with segmental stenosis, is simple to create and reproducible. It provides not only a model for the evaluation of thrombolytic therapy but also a practical training tool for adjunctive endovascular interventions.
Response to comments on “The absence of genotypic diversity in a successful parthenogenetic invader” by Mark Dybdahl and Devin Drown [Biological Invasions 13 (2011), 1663–1672]

We studied the diversity of clonal lineages in US populations of the New Zealand mudsnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum), focusing on the western states, using three different types of genetic markers: mtDNA, allozymes, and microsatellite DNA (msDNA) (Dybdahl and Drown in Biol Invasions 13:1663–1672, 2011). The comment by Hershler et al. (Biol Invasions, doi:10.1007/s10530-012-0184-2, 2012) raises issue with our msDNA data, claiming that we underestimated genotypic diversity. We chose to focus on msDNA alleles within the size range previously identified in several earlier studies of P. antipodarum, in order to increase the likelihood that we were scoring homologous amplification products. In contrast, Hershler et al. Biol Invasions 13:1663–1672, (2010) claimed that they identified alleles that are much larger, indicating greater genotypic diversity in one region (Snake River, ID). In our view, their results stand in contrast to previous work on msDNA diversity and mutational processes, which raises the issue that some of the very large fragments that they claimed were msDNA alleles may be been non-homologous amplification products. Nevertheless, the results of the two papers and analyses agree on the main conclusion of our paper: that only a few clonal lineages are present in the Snake River, Idaho, one of which is very common.
A Reduced-Toxicity Regimen Is Associated with Durable Engraftment and Clinical Cure of Nonmalignant Genetic Diseases among Children Undergoing Blood and Marrow Transplantation with an HLA-Matched Related Donor

Abstract Blood and marrow transplantation (BMT) is a standard curative therapy for patients with nonmalignant genetic diseases. Myeloablative conditioning has been associated with significant regimen-related toxicity (RRT), whereas reduced-intensity conditioning regimens have been associated with graft failure. In this prospective pilot trial conducted at 2 centers between 2006 and 2013, we report the outcome of 22 patients with nonmalignant genetic diseases who were conditioned with a novel reduced-toxicity regimen: i.v. busulfan (16 mg/kg), alemtuzumab (52 mg/m2), fludarabine (140 mg/m2), and cyclophosphamide (105 mg/kg). The median age of the study population was 3.5 years (range, 5 months to 26 years). No cases of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome, severe or chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), or primary graft failure were reported. Median time to neutrophil engraftment (>500 cells/μL) and platelet engraftment (>20K cells/μL) were 19 (range, 12 to 50) and 23.5 (range, 14 to 134) days, respectively. The median length of follow-up was 3 years (range, .2 to 6.3). The overall survival rates were 95% at 100 days (95% confidence interval, .72 to .99) and 90% at 6 years (95% confidence interval, .68 to .98). RRT and chronic GVHD are significant barriers to BMT for patients with nonmalignant genetic diseases. This alemtuzumab-based reduced-toxicity regimen appears to be promising with durable engraftment, effective cure of clinical disease, low rates of RRT, and no observed chronic GVHD.
Polyamine metabolism in the Microsporidia

Members of the phylum Microspora are all obligate intracellular parasites. Little is known concerning metabolic pathways in these parasites, some of which pose serious problems in immunocompromised patients. We investigated polyamine metabolism in the systemic pathogen Enterocytozoon cuniculi using intact pre-emergent spores, and cell-free preparations. We found both polyamine synthetic and interconversion pathways to be operative, as evidenced by conversion of ornithine into polyamines, and production of spermidine from spermine by pre-emergent spores. Recent developments in the antitumour field have highlighted the ability of bis-ethylated polyamine analogues to reduce polyamine levels and block growth of tumour cells. In light of enhanced polyamine uptake in Enc. cuniculi, we have begun to study bis-aryl 3-7-3 and bis-ethyl oligoamine analogues as leads for chemotherapy of microsporidia.
Analysis of Thermocouple Responses to Turbulent Radiating Environments

With increasing requirements for model validation when comparing computational and experimental results, there is a need to incorporate detailed representations of measurement devices within the computational simulations. Thermocouples are the most common temperature measurement transducers in flames and fire environments. Even for the relatively simple thermocouple transducer, the coupling of heat transfer mechanisms particularly under unsteady flow conditions leads to interesting dynamics. As experimentalists are well aware, the experimentally determined thermocouple values are not the same as the local gas temperatures and corrections are often required. From the computational perspective, it is improper then to assume that the predicted gas temperatures should be the same as the temperatures that an experimentalist might measure since the thermal characteristics of the thermocouple influence the indicated temperature. In this study we investigate the thermal characteristics of simulated thermocouples in unsteady flame conditions. Validation exercises are presented to test the underlying thermocouple model. Differences are noted between the predicted thermocouple response and expected response. These differences are interpreted from the perspective of what modeling artifacts might drive the differences.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Menopausal Symptom Relief with Acupuncture: Bayesian Analysis Using Piecewise Regression

ABSTRACT Due to the risk of recurrence, cancer-surviving menopausal women are urged to avoid traditional hormone therapy in their efforts to alleviate the symptoms of menopause. Here we consider the effectiveness of an alternative treatment for the relief of menopausal symptoms: acupuncture. We construct and apply a piecewise linear negative binomial regression model to the longitudinal frequency data collected from subjects randomly allocated to experimental groups. Bayesian inference on the parameters of this model—which include the knot locations of the piecewise regression curve—reveals intriguing differences between experimental groups.
Spatial periodicity in growth plate shear mechanical properties is disrupted by vitamin D deficiency

The growth plate is a highly organized section of cartilage in the long bones of growing children that is susceptible to mechanical failure as well as structural and functional disruption caused by a dietary deficiency of vitamin D. The shear mechanical properties of the proximal tibial growth plate of rats raised either on normal or vitamin D and calcium deficient diets were measured. A sinusoidal oscillating shear load was applied to small excised growth plate specimens perpendicular to the direction of growth while imaging the deformation in real time with a fast confocal microscope. Local deformations and shear strains were quantified using image correlation. The proliferative zone of the growth plate bores the majority of the shear strain and the resting, hypertrophic and calcification zones deformed less. Surprisingly, we regularly observed discontinuous deformations in the proliferative zone in both groups that resembled cell columns sliding past one another in the direction of growth. These discontinuities manifested as regions of concentrated longitudinal shear strain. Furthermore, these shear strain concentrations were spaced evenly in the proliferative zone and the spacing between them was similar across growth plate regions and across control specimens. In contrast to the healthy controls, the vitamin D deficient growth plate exhibited larger variations in the size and orientation of cellular columns in the proliferative and hypertrophic zones. High strains were observed between columns, much as they were in the controls. However, the regular spacing of shear strain concentrations was not preserved, echoing the observation of decreased structural organization.
Coherent computation of the multispectral maximal directional derivative

Abstract We describe an approach to the computation of the planar or volumetric maximal directional derivative (gradient) of a multispectral or hyperspectral image. We show that the planar multispectral case has an immediate solution. For the non-planar (volumetric or multitemporal) case we demonstrate that an iterative optimization technique (downhill simplex) exploiting image coherency is faster than the conventional eigendecomposition. Finally, we show that the iterative technique, based on matrix norms, has extensions not meaningful in the eigendecomposition method.
NO Reduction by Urea under Lean Conditions over Single-Step Sol–Gel Cu/Alumina Catalyst

Abstract We present the catalytic activity of 1% Cu on alumina catalyst prepared using a single-step sol–gel process (designated 1% Cu–SG) as a function of oxygen, water, and SO 2 in the feed for the reduction of NO with an aqueous urea solution. Our results show that NO x conversion activity of 1% Cu–SG is dependent on oxygen in the feed. The maximum conversion increased from 91 to 99% when the amount of oxygen in the feed was changed from 2 to 14%. Also, the location of maximum conversion temperature decreased from 400 to 377°C. Short-term and long-term exposure of the catalyst to a gas mixture containing 25 ppm SO 2 did not result in activity loss at any temperature as long as aqueous urea was present in the feed. However, temporary interruption of aqueous urea solution resulted in permanent activity loss. Our attempt to reactivate the catalyst with propene failed to recover the original activity.