cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An evaluation of the FAST-J photolysis algorithm for predicting nitrogen dioxide photolysis rates under clear and cloudy sky conditions

The FAST-J algorithm was developed to quickly and accurately calculate photolysis rates under both clear and cloudy sky conditions. In this paper, photolysis rates of nitrogen dioxide were calculated using FAST-J and compared with measurements taken at two sites in the United States: Phoenix, Arizona, and Houston, Texas. The measurements were derived from either an actinic flux filter radiometer (Phoenix) or a spectroradiometer (Houston). A sun photometer sited nearby these radiometers provided irradiance measurements from which aerosol and cloud optical thicknesses were obtained. Aerosol single scattering albedo was not known, but was taken to be either 0.79 or 0.94, representative of either soot- or sulfate-like aerosols, respectively. These optical properties served as input to the FAST-J algorithm, which in turn was used to calculate photolysis rates. For both clear and cloudy sky cases, the modeled and measured photolysis rates agree within the uncertainties of the measurements for a single scattering albedo of 0.94. For a single scattering albedo of 0.79, the agreement is again within the uncertainty limits except for the cloudy sky case in Houston. The results suggest that the FAST-J code may be a practical algorithm for use in atmospheric chemical transport models that make repeated calls to photolysis rate subroutines.
Autonomic healing of PMMA via microencapsulated solvent

Abstract Fully autonomous, room temperature self-healing in PMMA is achieved for the first time through the use of microcapsules containing a solvent. Linear PMMA is embedded with microcapsules (ca. 300 μm) containing a liquid anisole solvent core and a small amount of linear PMMA polymer for healing of crack damage. Specimens containing a range of concentrations of microcapsules were fracture tested and then allowed to heal for 1–7 days at ambient conditions. The healing efficiency of the material is evaluated based on the recovery of fracture toughness and is shown to be dependent on both healing time and microcapsule concentration. A maximum healing efficiency of 89% is obtained for specimens containing 5 wt% solvent microcapsules after 3 days of healing.
Derivation of signal flow directions and synchronizers for switch-level timing analysis

Signal flow directions and synchronizers in switch-level circuits are useful information in both simulation and timing analysis. Since signal flow of a transistor may get changed at different clock phases, our new approach of assigning signal flow directions incorporates with synchronizers. Our algorithm takes a global approach by assigning signal flow directions and synchronisers of transistors simultaneously from the graphical representation of a circuit. In our approach, functionality of a circuit is considered to determine signal flow directions, synchronizers, and feasible transitions. Our experimental results show that our algorithm is effective in both static and dynamic CMOS circuits with reasonable time and space.
Cutting balloon angioplasty vs. conventional balloon angioplasty in patients receiving intracoronary brachytherapy for the treatment of in‐stent restenosis

The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cutting balloon angioplasty (CBA) for the treatment of in-stent restenosis prior to intracoronary brachytherapy (ICB). Cutting balloon angioplasty may reduce the incidence of uncontrolled dissection requiring adjunctive stenting and may limit "melon seeding" and geographic miss in patients with in-stent restenosis who are subsequently treated with ICB. We performed a retrospective case-control analysis of 134 consecutive patients with in-stent restenosis who were treated with ICB preceded by either CBA or conventional balloon angioplasty. We identified 44 patients who underwent CBA and ICB, and 90 control patients who underwent conventional percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and ICB for the treatment of in-stent restenosis. Adjunctive coronary stenting was performed in 13 patients (29.5%) in the CBA/ICB group and 41 patients (45.6%; P 0.05). Despite sound theoretical reasons why CBA may be better than conventional balloon angioplasty for treatment of in-stent restenosis with ICB, and despite a reduction in the need for adjunctive coronary stenting, we were unable to identify differences in clinical outcome.
A Measurable Cardinal with a Nonwellfounded Ultrapower

The usefulness of measurable cardinals in set theory arises in good part from the fact that an ultraproduct of wellfounded structures by a countably complete ultrafilter is wellfounded. In the standard proof of the wellfoundedness of such an ultraproduct, one first shows, without any use of the axiom of choice, that the ultraproduct contains no infinite descending chains. One then completes the proof by noting that, assuming the axiom of choice, any partial ordering with no infinite descending chain is wellfounded. In fact, the axiom of dependent choices (a weakened form of the axiom of choice) suffices. It is therefore of interest to ask whether some use of the axiom of choice is needed in order to prove the wellfoundedness of such ultraproducts or whether, on the other hand, their wellfoundedness can be proved in ZF alone. In Theorem 1, we show that the axiom of choice is needed for the proof (assuming the consistency of a strong partition relation). Theorem 1 also contains some related consistency results concerning infinite exponent partition relations. We then use Theorem 1 to show how to change the cofinality of a cardinal X satisfying certain partition relations to any regular cardinal less than a, while introducing no new bounded subsets of x. This generalizes a theorem of Prikry [5].
Preventing harm from food-borne illness.

Geriatric Nursing Volume 24 Number 6 Food and water are major sources of bacterial contamination that can cause illness. Elderly people, especially the chronically ill, are at risk for disease caused by pathogenic organisms in food. Most food-borne disease outbreaks are bacterial. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people over 50 have more severe complications from food-borne diseases, including more hospitalizations and a higher death rate.
Uniform Disturbance Attenuation for Markovian Jump Linear Systems in Discrete Time

A complete characterization of almost surely uniformly stable and contractive Markovian jump linear systems is given in the discrete-time domain via the union of an increasing family of linear matrix inequality conditions. This characterization draws on the facts that the Riccati difference inequality associated with a stable and contractive linear time-varying system admits a solution which has finite memory of past parameters, and that each Markovian jump linear system can be treated as a switched linear system where the underlying Markov chain defines the switching path constraint. The result leads to a semidefinite programming-based controller synthesis technique, from which optimal finite-path dependent dynamic output feedback controllers arise naturally.
Evaluating Intracellular Signaling Pathways as Biomarkers for Environmental Contaminant Exposures

The number of biomarkers being evaluated as environmental indicators continues to increase even as proposed assessments expand in complexity. One key to a rational consolidation may lie in clearly identifying and characterizing those biochemical pathways shared among many biomarkers which are sensitive to environmental perturbation. Recent studies suggest that signal transduction pathways which are common to many cell types and species may provide multiple targets for the toxic effects of heavy metals. Such intracellular communication pathways might provide a useful framework for understanding hormetic effects and for predicting responses to complex contaminant mixtures. Preliminary in vitro experiments tested the effects of mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and cadmium chloride (CdCl2) on signal transduction in cells of the teleost immune system. Concentrations of inorganic mercury ≥ μM suppressed DNA synthesis and induced rapid influx of radiolabelled calcium within ten minutes as well as tyrosine phosphorylation of numerous cellular proteins within one minute. Lower concentrations (0.1 – 1 μM) of HgCl2 which activated cell growth also induced a slow rise over two minutes in intracellular calcium in cells loaded with the calcium indicator dye, fura-2, but did not produce detectable tyrosine phosphorylation of leukocyte proteins. Although CdCl2 >10 μM also suppressed DNA synthesis, this environmental metal failed to activate cell growth or to induce tyrosine kinase activity at any concentration tested. Future experiments will assess how cells which are exposed to both metals integrate these mixed signals. This approach may provide a means of predicting cellular responses to multiple contaminants over broad dose ranges
An analysis of ordnance software using the MALPAS tools

Results of using the MALPAS static analysis package are presented, both as they relate to the specific software being analyzed and more generally in terms of the experience and insight gained into the application of static analysis techniques to the verification of real-time software. The translation of the software into the intermediate language used by the MALPAS analyzers, the results of code analysis, the answers to questions posed about the software, and the conclusions arising from the analysis are discussed. Two significant safety-related flaws were detected during the analysis, one in the software itself and the other in the specification of the device. Comparisons are made between the findings of the analysis and currently proposed standards for writing safety-critical software. >
Pyran and Polyribonucleotides: Differences in Biological Activities

Maleic anhydride-divinyl ether copolymer (pyran) and the polyribonucleotides are both large polyanions with potent antiviral activity. However, they are biologically quite different. Interferon levels of 100 units or more/ml were associated with antiviral activity of polyribonucleotides. Interferon induction by pyran compounds was not primarily involved in antiviral resistance because preparations that did not induce interferon possessed antiviral activity equal to that of interferoninducing preparations. Both polyriboinosinic-cytidylic acid [poly (rI.rC)] and pyran increased the immune response to sheep erythrocytes in the Jerne hemolytic plaque-forming cell (PFC) assay, but their modes of immunoadjuvant action differed. On peak day, poly (rI.rC)-treated mice demonstrated 5.1 × 10 4 PFC/spleen (557 PFC/10 6 nucleated cells) and pyran-treated mice exhibited 4.5 × 10 4 PFC/spleen (299 PFC/10 6 nucleated cells), as compared with 2.7 × 10 4 PFC/spleen (261 PFC/10 6 nucleated cells) in controls. The compounds also differed in phagocytic alteration; polyribonucleotides did not affect phagocytosis whereas pyran produced a biphasic response. Both polyanions exhibited toxic inhibition of liver microsomal enzyme metabolism of type I and type II drugs. However, whereas pyran sensitized mice 50-fold to the lethal effects of endotoxin, the polyribonucleotides did not significantly sensitize mice to endotoxin.
Industrial Growth in the Tennessee Valley Region, 1959 to 1968

Shift analysis and the technique of entropy indicate an increase in the strength of rural and small‐town counties competing with urban areas for manufacturing employment during the study period. Increase in the strength of the most rural counties apparently was confined to labor‐oriented industries, but small towns and small cities were successful in attracting industries of varying orientations. Despite the rapid rate of industrialization, rural counties experienced slow or negative population growth; this is attributed to the absence of sizeable employment multiplier effects and to offsetting employment declines in extractive industries. The implication is that considerable potential exists for further rural industrialization.
SpaceTime: A mission with profound science at low cost

This is a MIDEX class mission that will carry a high precision clock to the vicinity of the Sun to measure relativistic effects related to time dilation in the immense gravity field. The results are expected to revolutionize our understanding of fundamental physics by this significant test of Einstein's Equivalence Principal. The architecture of the mission considers a low cost spacecraft that will be launched on a Solar Probe-like trajectory to the Sun. The simplicity of the instrument accommodation allows a very low cost and lightweight spacecraft configuration that can be launched on a low cost launch vehicle. This combination promises to yield profound new science at the very reasonable cost of a MIDEX mission.
Two Dogmas of Neo‐Empiricism

This article critically examines the contemporary r esurgence of empir icism (or “neo-empiricism”) in philosoph y, psychology, neuropsychology, and artificial intelligence. This resurgence is an important and positive de velopment. It is the first time that this centuries-old empiricist approach to cognition is precisely formulated in the context of co gnitive science and neuroscience. Moreover, neo-empiricists have made several findings that challenge amodal theories of concepts and higher cognition. It is argued, however, that the theoretical foundations of and the empirical evidence for neo-empiricism are not as strong as is usually claimed by its proponents. The empirical evidence for and against neo-empiricism is discussed in detail.
Cooperative Activation of the Cardiac Myofilament The Pivotal Role of Tropomyosin

The contraction and relaxation of the beating heart are mediated by highly coordinated processes that allow rapid activation and deactivation of the myofilaments. The sarcomere is the fundamental contractile element, and its shortening is the result of the myosin-containing thick filament sliding past the actin-containing thin filament. Fueled by ATP hydrolysis, myosin is the molecular motor that drives sarcomere shortening through a cyclic, ratchet-like interaction with actin. A critical component of cardiac contraction is the regulation of myosin-actin interactions, which are governed predominantly by the thin-filament regulatory proteins troponin and tropomyosin. Article see p 410 A change in myofilament isoform composition is one mechanism by which myocardial contractile performance may be affected in heart failure. The fast isoform of myosin heavy chain, α-MHC, normally accounts for approximately 10% of the fractional content in healthy human myocardium compared with 90% β-MHC, but it is reduced to nearly undetectable concentrations during heart failure.1 In animal models, a change in myofilament performance can be detected with MHC isoform shifting, and the slight loss of α-MHC in human heart failure has been touted by some,2 although not by all,3 as an underlying factor in the reduced cardiac function. Enhanced incorporation of the atrial isoform of the myosin essential light chain in the failing human ventricle has been observed and correlates with an increase in myofilament calcium sensitivity.4 Finally, a shift in troponin T isoform composition is reported in human heart failure,5 with likely modest effects on contractility.6 In this issue of Circulation , Rajan et al7 identify a shift in tropomyosin isoform expression in human heart failure and investigate its possible functional consequences. As discussed, this study represents an important contribution to our understanding of how myofilament protein isoforms, through the cooperative activation of the thin filament, …
End-of-semester syndrome: How situational regulatory fit affects test performance over an academic semester.

Psychology researchers often avoid running participants from subject pools at the end of the semester because they are “unmotivated.” We suggest that the end of the semester induces a situational prevention focus (i.e., sensitive to losses) unlike the beginning of the semester, which may induce a situational promotion focus (i.e., sensitive to gains). In two experiments, we presented participants with math problems at the beginning or end of an academic semester. End-of-semester participants performed better minimizing losses as compared to maximizing gains, whereas the opposite was true for beginning-of-semester participants.
Alar batten cartilage grafting in nasal reconstruction: Functional and cosmetic results

Abstract Background: Alar batten cartilage grafts can restore form and function to a compromised ala, prevent stenosis of the nasal valve, and maintain unrestricted air movement. Soft tissue reconstructive options can be combined with alar batten grafts. Objective: Our purpose was to analyze functional and cosmetic outcomes in a series of patients undergoing alar batten cartilage grafting. Methods: We analyzed the functional and cosmetic outcomes of 25 patients in whom reconstruction involved alar batten cartilage grafts. Assessment included defect characteristics, function and cosmesis (rated by physician and patient), and complications. Results: Eighty-three percent of patients had good to excellent functional and cosmetic results by patient and physician assessment. Three patients were rated as having poor cosmetic results by the physician; all 3 patients graded these results as good. One episode of graft failure occurred, and recipient and donor site complications were minor. Conclusion: Alar batten cartilage grafts appear to be an excellent option for reconstruction of substantial alar defects. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2000;43:833-6.)
ChronOS Linux: a best-effort real-time multiprocessor Linux kernel

We present ChronOS Linux, a best-effort real-time Linux kernel for chip multiprocessors (CMPs). ChronOS addresses the intersection of three problem spaces: a) OS-support for obtaining best-effort timing assurances, b) real-time Linux kernel augmented with the PREEMPT_RT patch, and c) OS support for CMP-aware real-time scheduling. While each of these spaces have been studied in the past, their intersection, which has strong problem motivations, was previously empty. Best-effort timeliness targets real-time applications with run-time uncertainties and resource overloads, and optimizes collective application timeliness --- as specified by the application. ChronOS directly supports the implementation of best-effort real-time schedulers on CMPs, in addition to others, in the global and partitioned scheduling disciplines. ChronOS extends the PREEMPT_RT Linux patch, and thus provides full kernel preemptibility and retains stock Linux features. We validate our claims by reporting on the implementation of a suite of best-effort and non-best-effort CMP schedulers on a quad-core AMD Phenom platform.
In Vivo Comparison of CXA-101 (FR264205) with and without Tazobactam versus Piperacillin-Tazobactam Using Human Simulated Exposures against Phenotypically Diverse Gram-Negative Organisms

CXA-101 is a novel antipseudomonal cephalosporin with enhanced activity against Gram-negative organisms displaying various resistance mechanisms. This study evaluates the efficacy of exposures approximating human percent free time above the MIC (%fT > MIC) of CXA-101 with or without tazobactam and piperacillin-tazobactam (TZP) against target Gram-negative organisms, including those expressing extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). Sixteen clinical Gram-negative isolates (6 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates [piperacillin-tazobactam MIC range, 8 to 64 μg/ml], 4 Escherichia coli isolates (2 ESBL and 2 non-ESBL expressing), and 4 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates (3 ESBL and 1 non-ESBL expressing) were used in an immunocompetent murine thigh infection model. After infection, groups of mice were administered doses of CXA-101 with or without tazobactam (2:1) designed to approximate the %fT > MIC observed in humans given 1 g of CXA-101 with or without tazobactam every 8 h as a 1-h infusion. As a comparison, groups of mice were administered piperacillin-tazobactam doses designed to approximate the %fT > MIC observed in humans given 4.5 g piperacillin-tazobactam every 6 h as a 30-min infusion. Predicted piperacillin-tazobactam %fT > MIC exposures of greater than 40% resulted in static to >1 log decreases in CFU in non-ESBL-expressing organisms with MICs of ≤32 μg/ml after 24 h of therapy. Predicted CXA-101 with or without tazobactam %fT > MIC exposures of ≥37.5% resulted in 1- to 3-log-unit decreases in CFU in non-ESBL-expressing organisms, with MICs of ≤16 μg/ml after 24 h of therapy. With regard to the ESBL-expressing organisms, the inhibitor combinations showed enhanced CFU decreases versus CXA-101 alone. Due to enhanced in vitro potency and resultant increased in vivo exposure, CXA-101 produced statistically significant reductions in CFU in 9 isolates compared with piperacillin-tazobactam. The addition of tazobactam to CXA-101 produced significant reductions in CFU for 7 isolates compared with piperacillin-tazobactam. Overall, human simulated exposures of CXA-101 with or without tazobactam demonstrated improved efficacy versus piperacillin-tazobactam.
Developing Consumer and System-Level Readiness for Effective Self-Advocacy: Perspectives from Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors Working With Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals in Post-Secondary Settings

Effective self-advocacy skills have been shown to positively influence lifetime outcomes of d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) individuals. The literature suggests that many DHH individuals may be underprepared to effectively self-advocate in post-secondary settings due to a lack of effective training and opportunity. Vocational rehabilitation counselors (VRCs) who work with and serve DHH consumers are in a unique position to support their clients’ self-advocacy skill building, especially during the transition into the workforce and other post-secondary settings. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how VRC’s promote the self-advocacy knowledge and skills of their DHH consumers within post-secondary employment and educational contexts. Additionally, this study explored how VRC’s facilitated self-advocacy opportunities for their clients at broader systems-levels. Utilizing a grounded theory approach, data from semi-structured interviews with 10 VRCs working specifically with DHH clients was analyzed. Selective coding procedures revealed sixteen thematic strategies used by VRCs at both the individual and systems level, including defining of necessary self-advocacy skills, linguistic skill building, provision of full communication access, comprehension monitoring, both informal and formal self-advocacy assessments, direct modeling of advocacy skill, self-advocacy skills programming and counseling, an overall gauging of client ‘readiness to advocate’, identification of advocacy opportunity at the system-level, and employer education. Implications and future directions are discussed.
Health care rationing affecting older persons: rejected in principle but implemented in fact.

Abstract Health care resources are finite and, therefore, need to be rationed among potential users. Over the past decade and a half in the United States, a variety of explicit, official rationing schemes have been proposed, including some in which chronological age would play a significant role. For ethical and political reasons, it is very unlikely that any age-based rationing schemes will be adopted explicitly and officially. However, various de facto forms of health care rationing are occurring at present. This article outlines the implications of payer behavior, physician practice patterns, the development of evidence-based clinical practice parameters or guidelines, and reliance on consumer choice of health plans as unofficial and generally unacknowledged mechanisms of health care rationing that may exert an important impact on the accessibility of health services for older persons.
Plurality, Negation, and Quantification:Towards Comprehensive Quantifier Scope Disambiguation

Recent work on statistical quantifier scope disambiguation (QSD) has improved upon earlier work by scoping an arbitrary number and type of noun phrases. No corpusbased method, however, has yet addressed QSD when incorporating the implicit universal of plurals and/or operators such as negation. In this paper we report early, though promising, results for automatic QSD when handling both phenomena. We also present a general model for learning to build partial orders from a set of pairwise preferences. We give ann logn algorithm for finding a guaranteed approximation of the optimal solution, which works very well in practice. Finally, we significantly improve the performance of the previous model using a rich set of automatically generated features.
Safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of the anti-IGF-IR monoclonal antibody CP-751,871 in patients with sarcomas and adrenocortical tumors.

A63 Background : CP-751,871, a fully humanized IgG2 subtype monoclonal antibody, is a potent and specific inhibitor of the insulin-like growth factor type I receptor (IGF-IR). Phase 1 studies have demonstrated that CP-751,871 is well tolerated. The IGF-IR pathway may play a key role in the initiation and progression of advanced human adrenocortical cancers (ACC) and sarcomas; IGF-IR inhibition using CP-751,871 has been shown to decrease the growth of sarcoma xenografts. Methods : Patients (pts) with relapsed and/or refractory ACC and sarcoma, ECOG PS ≥1, and adequate hematological and biochemical function were treated at the recommended phase 2 regimen of CP-751,871, IV, 20 mg/kg q21days (d). The primary aims were to further characterize the safety, tolerability and pharmcokinetics (PK) of CP-751,871; a secondary aim was to explore preliminary efficacy in these tumors. Results : To date, following informed consent, 14 patients with ACC and 16 patients with sarcoma (fibrosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, desmoplastic small round cell, synovial and Ewing’s/PNET sarcomas) have been enrolled. Median number of cycles is 2 (range 1-16). CP-751,871 related adverse events in sarcoma patients included CTCAE (v 3.0) grade (gr) 4 uric acid elevation (1 pt) and gr 3 bilateral DVT (1 pt), and in ACC patients, gr 4 GGT elevation (1 pt), gr 3 GGT elevation, hyperglycemia, alkaline phosphatase increase, ALT increase and nausea/vomiting (1 pt each). CP-751,871 t 1/2 was estimated to be 14-21 days. In pts evaluable for response, stable disease (>8 weeks) has been observed in 3 of 7 pts with sarcoma, and 9 of 13 pts with ACC. Conclusion : CP-751,871 is safe and well tolerated, and can lead to disease stabilisation in patients with relapsed and/or refractory ACC and sarcoma. Accrual to the study continues.
Behavior of Listeria monocytogenes in the Presence of Cocoa, Carrageenan, and Sugar in a Milk Medium Incubated With and Without Agitation

Enhanced growth of Listeria monocytogenes strain V7 in chocolate milk rather than skim milk was further investigated by testing various concentrations of cocoa powder (two types of Dutch-process, designated A and B), cane sugar, and sodium carrageenan in skim milk at 13 and 30°C with and without agitated incubation. Increasing sugar concentrations (0, 6.5, and 12.0%) were marginally significant (p = 0.06) in shortening generation times (5.17, 5.07, and 5.05 h, respectively) of the pathogen. Maximum populations attained by the pathogen were greater when cocoa (0.75% type A or B) and sugar (6.5 or 12.0%) were present. Sugar concentration affected growth of L. monocytogenes in an approximately linear relationship (8.41, 8.67, 8.82 log10 CFU/ml for 0, 6.5, and 12.0% sugar, respectively) except in samples containing only carrageenan. In this instance, presence of 6.5 and 12.0% sugar resulted in equivalent maximum populations (8.54 and 8.52 log10 CFU/ml). Three factors enhanced growth of the pathogen at 30°C: addition of cocoa, addition of sugar, and agitated rather than quiescent incubation. Without cocoa, generation times of L. monocytogenes were longer (1.04 h) compared to presence of type A (0.87 h) or B (0.90 h) cocoa. L. monocytogenes in agitated samples had shorter (0.82 h) generation times than in quiescent cultures (0.95 h). Highest populations were attained in agitated samples containing sugar and type A (9.21 log10 CFU/ml) or type B (9.22 log10 CFU/ml) cocoa compared to lowest populations in quiescent samples of skim milk (8.56 log10 CFU/ml).
The Problem of Hinterland and Foreland as Illustrated by the Port of Hamburg

(1956). The Problem of Hinterland and Foreland As Illustrated by the Port of Hamburg. Economic Geography: Vol. 32, No. 1, pp. 1-16.
The role of combined 24-h multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH monitoring in the evaluation of children with gastrointestinal symptoms suggesting gastro-esophageal reflux disease

Background The aim of this study was to determine the role of multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH (pH-MII) monitoring in the diagnosis of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) in children who presented with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in comparison with the results of pH-metry alone and endoscopy. Methods All children who underwent pH-MII monitoring due to GI symptoms, suggestive of GERD, from October 2013 to October 2015 in Children's Hospital Zagreb, were retrospectively enrolled in the study. The cohort was divided into three groups according to age – group 1: children <1 year of age; group 2: 1–9 years of age; and group 3: ≥9 years of age. Key Results One hundred thirty-three patients met our inclusion criteria (73 female/60 male; mean age 9.2 years [0.19–18.0]). Gastro-esophageal reflux disease was determined in 44 of 133 patients (33.1%) by pH-MII and only in 21 of 133 patients (15.8%) by pH-metry alone. Endoscopy was performed in 77 (57.9%) children and esophagitis was found in 32/77 (41.6%). The finding of esophagitis significantly correlated with the number of total reflux episodes (coef. 0.42, p < 0.001), acidic (coef. 0.26, p = 0.02), weakly acidic (coef. 0.3, p = 0.008) and non-acidic (coef. 0.26, p = 0.02) reflux episodes detected by pH-MII; but, no correlation was found to reflux episodes detected by pH-metry alone (coef. 0.21, p = 0.07). Conclusions & Inferences Compared with pH-metry alone, pH-MII performed significantly better in the detection of GERD in all age groups. On the basis of our data, pH-MII had a strong correlation with endoscopically confirmed esophagitis.
Modeling demosaicing of color corrected cameras in the NV-IPM

A critical step in creating an image using a Bayer pattern sampled color camera is demosaicing, the process of combining the individual color channels using a post-processing algorithm to produce the final displayed image. The demosaicing process can introduce degradations which reduce the quality of the final image. These degradations must be accounted for in order to accurately predict the performance of color imaging systems. In this paper, we present analytical derivations of transfer functions to allow description of the effects of demosaicing on the overall system blur and noise. The effects of color balancing and the creation of the luminance channel image are also explored. The methods presented are validated through Monte Carlo simulations, which can also be utilized to determine the transfer functions of non-linear demosaicing methods. Together with this new treatment of demosaicing, the framework behind the color detector component in NV-IPM is discussed.
ANTIFERROMAGNETIC THEORETICAL CALCULATION FOR HlGH-T_c SUPERCONDUCTORS

Considering layer-structural characteristico of high-Tc superconductors, the effective Hamiltonian is derived within linear spin wave approximation for aniso-tropic three-dimensional Hubbard model in the large U limit. The Sublattice magnetization, internal energy, Specific heat, parallel and perpindicular susceptibilies of the system are Calculated by using the equation of motion for matrix Green's function. It is shown that the ratio (δ - J⊥/J) of antiferromagnetic interplanar Coupling to planar coupling has an important effect upon these quantities. In the Low temperature regime T 《2J(2 + δ)/kB, a characteristic temperature is given, the asympototic expressions of these quantities are respectively obtained for T 》 T0 and T 《T0.
Web personalization and cohort information services for natural resource managers

We aim to address yet unanswered questions in web personalization by providing an integrated view of documents found through different tools, considering user confidentiality, emphasizing the benefits of client-side web personalization, and highlighting the power of social webpage recommendation when traditional information retrieval and collaborative filtering methods are used in conjunction. These principles define a framework which leverages groupings of users with overlapping interests called user cohorts.
Nutritional Management of the Chronically III Child: Congenital Heart Disease and Myelomeningocele

We have presented some of the nutritional complications encountered in two major pediatric congenital disorders. Although these conditions represent two more common major defects, it is unlikely that many health care providers will manage large numbers of these patients. Nevertheless, the nutrition principles apply to other nutritional dilemmas of chronically ill children. When an infant consumes a low volume intake, regardless of etiology, concerns such as provision of adequate nutrition, within the confines of the infant's water balance, become paramount. Methods have been discussed for increasing caloric density and for monitoring dietary safety and adequacy. When an infant has a propensity for becoming obese one needs to consider preventive measures such as providing sound nutrition information, support, and follow-up for both patient and family. Nutritional problems can become magnified unless adequate support is provided for total health and social needs of the family. The role of the dietitian must be one active participation within the the framework of an interdisciplianry team so that appropriate innovative nutrition programs can be developed and implemented.
A STEM Incubator to Engage Students in Hands-on, Relevant Learning: A Report from the Field

This paper describes the development of a STEM Incubator program to engage students in hand-on, relevant projects that draw student interest toward computer science and other STEM fields. The program is implemented via one-credit courses allowing students to collaborate on projects in various areas (such as digital sound and music, 3D design, robotics, digital image processing, bioinformatics, and mobile and pervasive computing) and around multiple application domains (e.g. internet of things and security, apps for college campus life, 3D printing and art, wearable sensors for disabilities, and sensors and unmanned vehicles for conservation). An apprentice/leader learning environment is created to sustain student involvement in ongoing projects. The evolution of the program is reviewed, including successes and challenges. We report on the demographics of students who have participated in the program so far, and on the success in attracting enthusiastic interest, notably among female students. The STEM Incubator program, like other similar programs described in this paper, attempts to put into practice the evidence-based teaching practices in active learning that have gained credence over the past decade. The paper is of interest to those considering a similar program or wishing to compare other programs to their own.
Investor Mentor: Evaluating the Entrepreneur as Protege

The entrepreneur’s pitch is a critical component that investors use to analyze opportunities. While investors consider financial aspects of the venture like the business model and market, there may...
Using Business Model O2O for District Products: A Case Study of Uncle Pome’ Pounded Unripe Rice Products, Nakhon Nayok Province, Thailand

The objectives of this research were:1) To study the characteristics of Uncle Poem’ pounded unripe rice products which are One Tambon One Product ( OTOP), 2) To study the Uncle Poem’ pounded unripe rice products development, 3) To study the using of Business Model O2O for distribution the Uncle Poem’ pounded unripe rice products, and 4) To study the development of Business Model O2O for distribution of Uncle Poem’ pounded unripe rice products for export. This research used an observation and in-dept interview, collected through the producers, the buyers, the products developers and related people, consisted of 36 persons. The results showed that:1) The characteristic of Uncle Poem’ pounded unripe rice products is the ‘sticky rice’ processing to be as cereal, 2) The Uncle Poem’ pounded unripe rice products development is prepared in terms of flavor in many styles, under the name of flavor pounded unripe rice, and developed in interesting packages, 3) The using of Business Model O2O for the distribution of Uncle Poem’ pounded unripe rice products pass through the face book, the post office, the province events and national events, and 4) The development of Business Model O2O for distribution of Uncle Poem’ pounded unripe rice products for export should develop the products’ form for ‘ready to eat’.
Doing well by doing good and by saying good

Research on CSR and employee attitudes, such as employee satisfaction with the firm, shows that corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities affect employee attitudes significantly, but underly...
Unsupervised gene set testing based on random matrix theory.

Gene set testing, or pathway analysis, is a bioinformatics technique that performs statistical testing on biologically meaningful sets of genomic variables. Although originally developed for supervised analyses, i.e., to test the association between gene sets and an outcome variable, gene set testing also has important unsupervised applications, e.g., p-value weighting. For unsupervised testing, however, few effective gene set testing methods are available with support especially poor for several biologically relevant use cases. In this paper, we describe two new unsupervised gene set testing methods based on random matrix theory, the Marcenko-Pastur Distribution Test (MPDT) and the Tracy-Widom Test (TWT), that support both self-contained and competitive null hypotheses. For the self-contained case, we contrast our proposed tests with the classic multivariate test based on a modified likelihood ratio criterion. For the competitive case, we compare the new tests against a competitive version of the classic test and our recently developed Spectral Gene Set Enrichment (SGSE) method. Evaluation of the TWT and MPDT methods is based on both simulation studies and a weighted p-value analysis of two real gene expression data sets using gene sets drawn from MSigDB collections. The MPDT and TWT methods are novel and effective tools for unsupervised gene set analysis with superior statistical performance relative to existing techniques and the ability to generate biologically important results on real genomic data sets.
Biomechanics of the Elbow

Elbow stability is provided by a complex interplay of static and dynamic stabilizers that are of variable importance depending upon the position of the elbow and upon which structures have been damaged. Static stabilizers include the conformity of the ulnotrochlear joint, the coronoid process, the concavity–convexity of the radial head and capitellum, the anterior band of the ulnar collateral ligament, and the lateral collateral ligament complex. The anterior band of the ulnar collateral ligament is the primary stabilizer against valgus stress, with the radial head serving as a secondary stabilizer. The lateral collateral ligament complex, which consists of the radial collateral ligament, the lateral ulnar collateral ligament, and the annular ligament, is the primary stabilizer to varus stress, with the coronoid serving as a secondary stabilizer. Dynamic stabilizers of the ulnotrochlear joint include the biceps, brachialis, triceps, and anconeus. These structures act to center contact pressures. The flexor-pronator mass serves as a dynamic stabilizer to valgus stress and the extensors serve as a dynamic stabilizer to varus stress, completing the “concavity-compression” mechanism of the radiocapitellar joint. A thorough understanding of the anatomy, function, and interaction of these structures is crucial for understanding the rationale for the surgical treatment of elbow instability.
Review: Overdrive: L.A. Constructs the Future, 1940–1990

Overdrive: L.A. Constructs the Future, 1940–1990 Getty Center Exhibitions Pavilion, Los Angeles 9 April–21 July 2013 National Building Museum, Washington, D.C. 20 October 2013–10 March 2014 Overdrive: L.A. Constructs the Future, 1940–1990 was an ambitious exhibition that drew on an earlier initiative by the Getty Research Institute and the J. Paul Getty Museum, chronicling the transformation of Los Angeles from a “fledgling pueblo in the mid-1800s to a vibrant urban center” in the mid-twentieth century. There has not been any major exhibition on Southern California’s architecture and urbanism since Architecture in California, 1868–1968 , the groundbreaking retrospective curated by David Gebhard and Harriette Von Breton in 1968. Thus, Overdrive shouldered a huge burden of expectation. Los Angeles, America’s second-largest city, has not been as lucky as the Big Apple. When we think of a quintessential twentieth-century American city that embodies exuberant architectural visions for the future and provides a dynamic urban theater for Horatio Alger–type “rags-to-riches” stories, we unconsciously conjure up images of New York. Despite L.A.’s claim of being “one of the most populous and influential industrial, economic, and creative capitals in the world” and its iconic image popularized by the celluloid glamour of Hollywood, the city’s architectural and urban histories have remained relatively understudied, compared to other global cities such as London, Paris, and New York. This, of course, does not mean that there has been a dearth of worthwhile architectural and urban happenings in L.A. Among other books, David Gebhard and Robert Winter’s A Guide to Architecture in Southern California (1965); Reyner Banham’s Los Angeles: The Architecture of Four Ecologies (1971); Charles Moore, Peter Becker, and Regula Campbell’s The City Observed, Los Angeles: A Guide to Its Architecture and Landscapes (1984); and Mike Davis’s City of Quartz: Excavating …
Taxi Drivers, Infrastructures, and Urban Change in Globalizing Mumbai

This paper focusses on taxis and the taxi industry in relationship to crisis and change in contemporary Mumbai. Through an ethnographic exploration of Mumbai's taxi modernization project, changes in the material aspects of the taxi and taxi system, and a community of hereditary taxi drivers known as chillia, I examine ways that infrastructure is understood, practiced, and contested. Focusing on how chillia drivers negotiate livelihoods in the context of contemporary moves to modernize, deregulate, and privatize the taxi trade, I argue that while rationalizing imperatives of infrastructural modernization are vital to jumpstarting urban change, they contend with multiple and shifting meanings that infrastructure building takes on among various actors in the city. Mumbai's taxi modernization project illuminates how negotiations around these meanings have the capacity to shape and redirect urban change both from “above” and “below.” [Urban Infrastructure; Globalization; Labor; Transportation; South Asia; Taxis; India]
Database selection in systematic reviews: an insight through clinical neurology

Background Failure to perform a comprehensive search when designing a systematic review (SR) can lead to bias, reducing the validity of review's conclusions. Objective We examined the frequency and choice of databases used by reviewers in clinical neurology. Methods Ninety-five SRs and/or meta-analyses were located across five prominent neurology journals between 2008 and 2014. Methods sections were reviewed, and all bibliographic databases were coded. Results On average, 2.59 databases were used in SR searches. Seven reviews included an information specialist, and these reviews reported a greater number of information sources used during the search process. Thirty-nine databases were reported across studies. PubMed/MEDLINE® and EMBASE were cited most frequently. Discussion Searching too few databases may reduce the validity and generalisability of SR results. We found that the majority of systematic reviewers in clinical neurology do not search an adequate number of databases, which may yield a biased sample of primary studies and, thus, may influence the accuracy of summary effects. Conclusions Systematic reviewers should aim to search a sufficient number of databases to minimise selection bias. Additionally, systematic reviewers should include information specialists in designing SR methodology, as this may improve systematic review quality.
The Reid Interrogation Technique and False Confessions: A Time for Change

The Reid Interrogation technique has been the dominant method used by police in the United States and Canada to interview suspects of crime. This method is commercially marketed to police departments and other law enforcement agencies with the promise that 80 percent of those interrogated will confess. However, there is growing evidence that the Reid technique results in a significant number of false confessions, especially among the young, the mentally impaired and those of low intelligence. Other countries, especially England have rejected the Reid technique in favor of other methods that work equally well in obtaining confessions but without the risk of false confessions. In the United States, too, there is growing suspicion of the Reid technique and other hard interrogation tactics such as those employed in interrogating suspected terrorists at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib. This paper suggests that widespread use of the Reid technique is a significant contributing factor in public distrust of the police, and fosters police attitudes that feed that dissatisfaction. Rejection of the Reid technique in favor of other methods is likely to improve police efficiency as well as help heal the growing rift between police personnel and the communities they serve. This paper has been accepted for publication in the Seattle Journal for Social Justice.
Incongruence Between Native and Test Administration Languages: Towards Equal Opportunity in International Literacy Assessment

Previous research has primarily addressed the effects of language on the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) mathematics and science assessments. More recent research has focused on...
Human diabetic mesenchymal stem cells from peripheral arterial disease patients promote angiogenesis through unique secretome signatures.

Abstract Background Diabetic patients are at increased risk of complications from severe peripheral arterial disease. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) may be useful in limiting these complications. Our objective is to test the angiogenic potential of diabetic versus healthy MSCs. Methods MSCs' angiogenic potential was tested by endothelial cell (EC) proliferation, migration, and 3-dimensional sprouting. Diabetic conditions were simulated with 5.5, 20, or 40 mM glucose. MSC secretome was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Human aortic ECs were most sensitive to glucose conditions and were used for all MSC experiments. Diabetic MSCs had greater 3-dimensional invasion than healthy MSCs (P Conclusion Despite having similar in vitro angiogenic activity, diabetic MSCs secrete a unique and inflammatory angiogenic signature that may influence MSC survival and function after transplantation in cell therapy applications. Strategies that normalize secretome in diabetic patients may improve the utility of autologous MSCs in this population of patients.