cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Brief report: trimethoprim-induced hyperkalemia in a patient with AIDS.

Hyperkalemia has been reported in 16 to 21 percent of patients hospitalized with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)1–3. Although renal failure often accompanies hyperkalemia,1,2 AIDS is associated with other abnormalities that impair renal excretion of potassium, such as adrenal insufficiency and hypoaldosteronism3–7. Adrenal insufficiency and hypoaldosteronism, however, are rare in patients with AIDS4,5. Hyperkalemia develops in 20 to 53 percent of patients with AIDS while they are receiving high doses of trimethoprim in combination with sulfamethoxazole or dapsone for the treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia8. We recently encountered a patient with AIDS . . .
Application of Sans to Ceramic Characterization

Traditionally, small angle neutron scattering (SANS) has been used to study dilute concentrations of defects 1–100 nm in size. Recent extensions of the scattering theory have allowed the expansion of the technique to include larger sizes through the use of multiple scattering. With multiple small angle neutron scattering, defects (pores, microcracks, precipitates) up to 10 µm in size can be studied. SANS is inherently a non-destructive, bulk probe of microstructure, with wide applications in the characterization of materials. A number of studies of ceramic materials using multiple and traditional (single particle diffraction) small angle neutron scattering will be discussed. The emphasis will be on the strength of the technique in the characterization of materials. Particular examples will include: the assessment of pore size distributions in spinel compacts as a function of sintering and agglomeration, the characterization of primary and secondary particle sizes in precipitated aggregates, and the determination of microporosity in MDF cements.
Changes in the Thiamine Content of Adult Worker Honeybees on Protein-Free Diet,

No extensive study has been made on the changes in the vitamin content of insects in their successive periods of development. Haydak and Vivino (1943) studied the thiamine, ribofiavin, pyridoxine, niacin, pantothenic acid and ascorbic acid content of young and old stadia of honeybees under normal conditions of growth and development and found that the vitamin content, in general, decreased somewhat with the age of the insect.
Implications of Mindfulness Training on Psychological Training in Shooting Events

The authors of the present paper searched the key points of mindfulness training,clarified the basic ideas,and compared mindfulness training with previous psychological works with the research methods of literature search,case analysis and logical induction,so as to provide some references for developing the future psychological training in the national shooting team.The conclusions are as follows:mindfulness training requires shooters to perceive consciously,live in the moment and not to judge.Mindfulness training is closer to athletes' psychological reality in the game and more humanized than other psychotherapies,and thus has a bright prospect in sports field.The two shooters' psychological control plans in the London Olympics help them play normally and gain bronze medals,which provides the feasibility for carrying out mindfulness training.It is difficult for shooters to accept and master mindfulness training because its main training forms relate meditation and vipassana cognition.Therefore,practitioners are supposed to learn and understand the concepts and methods of mindfulness training.Besides,they should also be good at theoretical explanation,relate the theories with shooting events,and instruct with patience and step by step.
A renewed Medication Adherence Alliance call to action: harnessing momentum to address medication nonadherence in the United States

The problem Nonadherence to prescription medications is a common and costly problem with multiple contributing factors, spanning the dimensions of individual behavior change, psychology, medicine, and health policy, among others. Addressing the problem of medication nonadherence requires strategic input from key experts in a number of fields. Meeting of experts The Medication Adherence Alliance is a group of key experts, predominately from the US, in the field of medication nonadherence. Members include representatives from consumer advocacy groups, community health providers, nonprofit groups, the academic community, decision-making government officials, and industry. In 2015, the Medication Adherence Alliance convened to review the current landscape of medication adherence. The group then established three working groups that will develop recommendations for shifting toward solutions-oriented science. Commentary of expert opinion From the perspective of the Medication Adherence Alliance, the objective of this commentary is to describe changes in the US landscape of medication adherence, framing the evolving field in the context of a recent think tank meeting of experts in the field of medication adherence.
Some Aspects of the Conflict between Science and Religion

If my argument so far has been correct, the conflict between Science and Religion is ultimately a conflict between two opposed conceptions of human personality. Adherents of the religious outlook are committed to two assertions about human nature which scientifically-educated persons find utterly incredible. The first is that at least some human beings have cognitive capacities of a very peculiar sort, quite different from sense perception, introspection, memory and conceptual intelligence. The second is that human personality consists of at least two separable constituents, soul and body, and the soul continues to exist, in ‘other worlds’, after the disintegration of the body. In some versions of the religious outlook, both Eastern and Western, the soul is further distinguished into two constituents, spirit on the one hand and mind on the other; and in the Buddhist version of it, what continues after death is a series of mental events and not a soul-substance. But for our present purpose, these differences are relatively unimportant. What matters is the contention that human personality, however analysed, continues to exist after bodily death, the claim that personal identity is independent of the continuance of the physical organism.
The Mechanical Strength of a Mechanical Bond: Sonochemical Polymer Mechanochemistry of Poly(catenane) Copolymers

Topological molecular connections and structures, including physical entanglements in polymer networks, knots along polymer chains, and rotaxanes in sliding ring gels, have important consequences for the physical properties of polymeric materials. Often these topologies contribute through their ability to bear mechanical stress, but experimental measures of their relative mechanical strength are rare. Here, we use sonochemical polymer mechanochemistry to assess the relative mechanical strength of a multicatenane copolymer relative to copolymers of cyclic and linear analogs. The relative mechanical strengths are obtained by comparing the limiting molecular weights (Mlim) and contour lengths (Llim) of the polymers under pulsed ultrasound of their dilute solutions. The values of Mlim and Llim, and thus the inferred mechanical strengths of the polymers, are effectively identical. The mechanical bonds of the catenanes are therefore as strong, or stronger, mechanically as the covalent bonds along the polymer backbone.
77 Choline supplementation during pregnancy protects against lipopolysaccharide-induced preeclampsia symptoms

Introduction Pre-eclampsia is characterized by new-onset hypertension and proteinuria at ⩾20 weeks of gestation. Our previous study demonstrated that the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway may contribute to the relief of Pre-eclampsia through α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR). Choline, a selective α7 nAChR agonist, has recently been established as a promising treatment for inflammation. Objectives In order to examine the effects of gestational choline supplementation on LPS-induced pre-eclampsia symptoms in rats. Methods Pre-eclampsia model was induced by lipopolysaccharide (1.0 μ g/kg) via tail vein injection on gestational day (GD) 14. Pregnant SD rats were placed on a supplemented (5.0 g/kg diet) or normal (1.1 g/kg diet) choline diet throughout gestation. All the rats were divided into 4 groups (P = normal pregnant + 1.1 g/kg choline diet; P-CHOLINE = normal pregnant + 5.0 g/kg choline diet; LPS = LPS + 1.1 g/kg choline diet; LPS-CHOLINE = LPS +5.0 g/kg choline diet). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured on GD 6,11,14,16 and 18. On GD 7, 12, 17, and 19, urine is collected for 24 h urinary albumin excretion measurements. On GD 20, dams were all sacrificed. Pups were then removed, counted and weighed. Percent of resorbed and malformation fetuses were also counted. Placental weights were measured. Results An injection with LPS on GD 14 resulted in higher blood pressure (GD 14 = 105 ± 1.5 mmHg VS GD 16 = 127 ± 0.9 mmHg; GD 18 = 130 ± 1.1 mmHg, P Conclusions Thus, choline supplementation during pregnancy protects against LPS-induced pre-eclampsia. This may provide a new potential prevention strategy for pre-eclampsia.
A concept analysis of critical thinking: A guide for nurse educators

In research literature, the concept of critical thinking has been widely utilized in nursing education. However, critical thinking has been defined and evaluated using a variety of methods. This paper presents a concept analysis to define and clarify the concept of critical thinking to provide a deeper understanding of how critical thinking can be incorporated into nursing education through the use of simulation exercises. A theoretical definition and sample cases were developed to illuminate the concept as well as a discussion of the antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents of critical thinking.
Extending a robot controller's capabilities with FDT

Most industrial robots have to communicate with programmable logic controllers (PLCs), sensors, and actuators. If customers have specific requirements, such as operation without a PLC or direct sensor-robot-communication, they need a way of adapting the fieldbus configuration originally shipped with a robot to integrate their own components. This paper discusses, how the FDT/DTM technology can be used to integrate peripheral devices into a robot controller. The entire process from the creation of an initial FDT projection during the production of a robot controller to the adaption by robot users to their specific needs is covered. Furthermore, the process of integrating a robot controller into a user-specific fieldbus network is described, regardless of the fieldbus protocol used.
Heterogeneous mesoporous manganese oxide catalyst for aerobic and additive-free oxidative aromatization of N-heterocycles

Herein, we report a heterogeneous, aerobic, additive-free and environmentally benign catalytic protocol for oxidative aromatization of saturated nitrogen-heterocycles using a mesoporous manganese oxide material. The aromatized products can be separated by easy filtration and the catalyst is reusable for at least four cycles. Mechanistic investigation provides evidence for radical intermediates, a multi-electron redox cycle between Mn centers, and an oxygen exchange mechanism.
Investigation of the asphalt–aggregate interaction using molecular dynamics

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study is to explore the self-healing process or diffusion of the asphalt materials on aggregates through the experiments and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The asphalt mastic samples were prepared with binders and fine aggregates. The microscale dynamic X-ray computed tomography was conducted to capture the self-diffusion process of the binder in the asphalt mastic controlled at 353.15 K using Advanced Photon Source beamline 2-BM. The Mean Square Displacements were analyzed to describe the self-healing behaviors of binders by an MD method. The results of tests and MD simulations show that the molecules of the asphalt model on the nanoscale at high temperatures move faster those at low temperatures. The asphalt molecules move forward to aggregate layer and expand contact area to reduce the system energy.
Photorefractive tungsten bronze materials for data storage applications

The photorefractive and electrical properties of ferroelectric tungsten bronze (T.B.) materials are reviewed with respect to optical data storage applications. Our work indicates that both the photorefractive properties (speed and coupling) and dark conductivity are sensitive to the type of T.B. host, dopants, and structural defects. The filled-lattice T.B. crystals exhibit faster response and lower dark conductivities, which are needed for data storage applications, as compared to unfilled T.B. crystals. Concepts for 3-D holographic memory applications using these materials arc discussed.
Weak Integration of Vector-Valued Functions

In this paper, X is a Hausdorff topological space, (μ a finite, positive, and countably additive set function on a σ-algebra β of subsets of X which includes the Borel sets, and μ * the outer measure associated with μ (μ * (A)=Inf{(μ(B):⊃A, B ∈ μ}).
Colorado Senate Race: Republicans Expect to Capture Second Straight Senate Seat, but Fall Short

The 2016 U.S. Senate race pitted incumbent Michael Bennet (D) against challenger Darryl Glenn (R), offering voters in the Centennial State a divisive campaign. Bennet was thought to be on the endangered incumbents list until a gaggle of Republicans filed to run, including two self-financing candidates. A self-described underdog, County Commissioner Darryl Glenn, won the primary. Bennet busied himself with fundraising and airing ads, turning the race into a done deal for the incumbent instead. Bennet ran a mostly positive campaign while the Republican nominee was never able to hit his stride. Although the race narrowed, Bennet held on. It is possible that if Glenn had been able to mount a challenge to the incumbent earlier in the campaign, it might have been winnable for the Republican Party.
Contemporary Trends in the Use and Outcomes of Surgical Treatment of Tricuspid Regurgitation.

BackgroundTricuspid regurgitation (TR), if untreated, is associated with an adverse impact on long‐term outcomes. In recent years, there has been an increasing enthusiasm about surgical and transca...
Islam and the Culture of Modern Egypt: From the Monarchy to the Republic

Telling a new story of modern Egypt, Mohammad Salama uses textual and cinematic sources to construct a clear and accessible narrative of the dynamics of Islam and culture in the first half of the twentieth century. The conflict between tradition and secular values in modern Egypt is shown in a stimulating and challenging new light as Salama bridges analysis of nationalism and its connection to Islamism, and outlines the effects of secular education versus traditional Islamic teaching on varied elements of Egyptian society. These include cultural production, politics, economic, identity, and gender relations. All of this helps to discern the harbingers that led to Egypt's social transition from the monarchy to the republic and opens the possibility of Islam as an inspiring and inspirational force. This illuminating, provocative and informative study will be of use to anyone interested in the period, whether general readers, students, or researchers.
Trends in the incidence of sudden unexpected infant death in the newborn: 1995-2014

Objective To evaluate the epidemiology of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) over a 20-year period in the US, to assess the potential frequency of sudden unexpected postnatal collapse in the early days of life, and to determine if SUID rates in the neonatal period (0-27 days) have changed in parallel with rates in the postneonatal periods, including the percentages attributed to codes that include accidental suffocation. Study design Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Linked Birth/Infant Death Records for 1995-2014 were analyzed for the first hour, day, week, and month of life. A comparison of neonatal and postneonatal data related to SUID, including accidental suffocation, was carried out. Results Death records for 1995-2014 indicate that, although SUID rates in the postneonatal period have declined subsequent to the 1992 American Academy of Pediatrics sleep position policy change, newborn SUIDs have failed to decrease, and the percentage of SUIDs attributed to unsafe sleep conditions has increased significantly in both periods; 29.2% of the neonatal cases occurred within the first 6 days of life. Conclusions The frequency of SUIDs during the neonatal period warrants ongoing attention to all circumstances contributing to this category of deaths. The development of a standardized definition of sudden unexpected postnatal collapse and a national registry of these events is recommended. Ongoing research on the effects of early neonatal practices on postneonatal SUID should also be encouraged.
Effect of a core-softened O-O interatomic interaction on the shock compression of fused silica

Isotropic soft-core potentials have attracted considerable attention due to their ability to reproduce thermodynamic, dynamic, and structural anomalies observed in tetrahedral network-forming compounds such as water and silica. The aim of the present work is to assess the relevance of effective core-softening pertinent to the oxygen-oxygen interaction in silica to the thermodynamics and phase change mechanisms that occur in shock compressed fused silica. We utilize the MD simulation method with a recently published numerical interatomic potential derived from an ab initio MD simulation of liquid silica via force-matching. The resulting potential indicates an effective shoulder-like core-softening of the oxygen-oxygen repulsion. To better understand the role of the core-softening we analyze two derivative force-matching potentials in which the soft-core is replaced with a repulsive core either in the three-body potential term or in all the potential terms. Our analysis is further augmented by a comparison ...
The Role of Luminescence Spectroscopy in Polymer Science

Polymer science in general and the organic coatings field in particular have been slow to take full advantage of the phenomenon of luminescence as either a research or analytical tool. Equipment for the measurement of luminescence is no more complex or expensive nor less available than that now found in most laboratories for work in absorption spectroscopy. The techniques involved present little more difficulty than those involved in absorption work. It is the purpose of this report to point out some of the possibilities presented by luminescence methods in the characterization of polymers and copolymers in the coatings and plastics fields.
Comparison Concepts and Expected Roles

It is commonly supposed, although there is very little evidence to warrant such a supposition, that there exists a simple and logical relation between what a person says and what he thinks.
Supporting the Employment of People with Serious Mental Illness

Supported employment for persons with serious mental illness is a relatively new concept that encompasses a variety of models, philosophies, and orientations. Increasingly, supported employment services for persons with serious mental illness have become differentiated from programs serving other disability groups with greater emphasis on long-term support and less on job training. Six models of supported employment continue to be used for persons with serious mental illness including: (1) enclaves, (2) mobile work crews, (3) dispersed groups or clusters, (4) entrepreneurial models, (5) individual models, and (6) transitional employment. Supported employment is a service recognized and funded by Employment of People with Serious Mental Illness VR and now includes: (1) assessment, (2) job development, (3) job placement, (4) job training and support, and (5) extended services.
Biosorption of nickel (II) ion from synthetic wastewater on watermelon rind activated carbon using reponse surface methodology (RSM) optimization approach

The introduction of lethal heavy metals into the environment from industrial wastes is a major problem that needs immediate attention. In the present study the adsorption efficiency of nickel ions from a synthetic wastewater using watermelon rind activated carbon as a biosorbent is reported. Four basic process variables – initial Ni2+ concentration (5 – 100mg/l); pH (2 – 7); contact time (20 – 720 minutes) and adsorbent dosage (5 – 25g/l) were used for the investigation. Response surface (Box Behnken design expert 7.0®) methodology based on a design of experiment (DOE) that produced 29 batch experimental runs was used. The amount of Ni2+ adsorbed was optimized numerically to determine the optimum conditions for the adsorption process. The results of the study show that initial Ni2+ concentration of 100 mg/l; pH value of 6.69; 5g adsorbent dosage and 365.89 minutes contact time were the optimum process conditions for the removal of 18.43mg/g of Ni2+ representing 97% of the maximum predicted adsorption rate. It can be concluded therefore, that water melon rind activated carbon has high adsorption capacity and can be used effectively as adsorbent for the removal of nickel from nickel polluted waste and surface water. Keywords : Adsorption, nickel ion, optimization, response surface methodology, water melon rind
Optimizing HIV prevention and care for transgender adults

: Transgender women have recently been acknowledged as a unique and important risk group in HIV research and care. Although transgender men also face specific problems related to HIV infection, less is known about the risk behaviours and HIV prevalence of this important population. This article highlights key issues relating to the epidemiology, prevention, treatment and management of complications of HIV infection in transgender adults living with HIV, and explores future areas for HIV-related research, with the ultimate goal of improving healthcare provision and quality of life for transgender persons worldwide.
Earnings Management in Firms with Data Security Breaches

ABSTRACT Anecdotal research suggests that management is concerned about how Data Security Breaches (DSBs) impact a firm's financial performance. We investigate: whether managers in DSB firms manipu...
Behavior of the group-predatory ant Proatta butteli (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): An old world relative of the attine ants

1. Morphological evidence indicates the Southeast Asian genusProatta is phylogenetically close to the Attini. The gyne ofProatta is described for the first time. 2. Colonies ofProtta butteli are polygynous, with numerous queens present. There is no evidence for aggression between queens or differential treatment of queens by workers. Also, there is no sign of intraspecific aggression: the ants readily accepted workers transplanted from distant sites. 3. Workers search for food solitarity, foraging only a short distance (invariably less than a meter) from each nest entrance. Within the limited foraging area worker density tends to be high, and clumps of as many as 50 foragers are sometimes present. This foraging pattern allows for rapid exploitation of discovered food. Recruitment occurs along odor trails formed from a pheromone originating in the poison gland. 4. In addition to small prey and scavenged arthropod corpses, the ants capture prey larger than themselves. Such prey are taken by an inchoate form of group predation. The first worker to encounter the prey attempts to restrain it. Because of the high forager density, additional workers soon arrive seemingly by chance and aid in pinning the prey in place. Unlike attine ants,Proatta butteli does not feed on fungi. 5. The worker repertoire, temporal division of labor, and emigration behavior are discussed. Although workers vary little in head width (0.51 to 0.70 mm) they show a modest division of labor by size, with smaller individuals being relatively numerous in the brood area.
The destroyed city as grazing space: Interpretive possibilities in Isaiah 5.17, 17.2, 27.10, and 32.14:

In four instances, the book of Isaiah depicts a destroyed city as a grazing space for domestic livestock (5.17, 17.2, 27.10, and 32.14). Scholars typically insist that such language, when it is und...
Narratives of global convergence and the power of choosing a measure

ABSTRACTResearch into the use of indicators in global governance emphasises the importance of which types of quantitative measurements of social phenomena are chosen, how they are chosen, and by wh...
Video Games, Homer to Hesiod: What Ancient Greek Content Do Video Game Players See?

Studies suggest strong motivational effects of video games in educational environments. Rather than simply listening to lectures or viewing power point presentations, video games allow students to immerse themselves in a virtual world that they, in various ways, control and interact in and with. They become invested in their game world. But motivation notwithstanding, what do students really learn from these games? The literature is strangely silent on this question. This study examines ten popular video games (console, computer, mobile and internet) for their use of classical content. Does gamification really lead to content acquisition or is it mainly a strategy without direction? What are students learning about Ancient Greek mythology in these games?
Rightward Leanings and Nonstandard Party-Position Perceptions:

Some individuals defy the consensus as to parties’ relative ideological positions, asserting that a party is more left-leaning than its rivals even when most observers have the opposite view. Such ...
Group cohesion and relatedness as predictors of self-determined motivation and burnout in adolescent female athletes.

Abstract Objectives Athlete burnout is the result of a maladaptive sport experience that is influenced by the social context. A salient social contextual feature of youth sport is group cohesion. Cohesion may link with burnout through its association with relatedness and self-determined motivation. The current study was designed to test a model in which cohesion associates with burnout by way of relatedness and self-determined motivation. Design Cross-sectional survey-based study. Method Female youth soccer athletes (N = 276; M age = 14.9 years, SD = 1.3) completed measures of task and social cohesion, relatedness, self-determined motivation, and burnout. Results Task (β = 0.26) and social (β = 0.59) cohesion associated with perceptions of relatedness. In turn, relatedness positively linked with self-determined motivation (β = 0.38), which in turn negatively associated with global burnout (β = −0.79). The indirect effects from task cohesion to burnout (β = −0.08) and from social cohesion to burnout (β = −0.18) by way of relatedness and self-determined motivation were significant. Conclusions Results support the proposed model whereby greater cohesion associates with an athlete’s feelings of relatedness, which links to more self-determined motivation and, consequently, lower burnout perceptions. Future research is needed to assess support for causality of these links and explore how contextual factors such as the teammate-created motivational climate contributes to group cohesion and relatedness perceptions within this burnout model.
Update on BEST Collaboration and Status of Lattice QCD

The Beam Energy Scan Topical (BEST) Collaboration was formed to support the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) experimental program in search for the QCD critical point. I will report on the status of the BEST collaboration, mainly focusing on the lattice QCD effort but also touching on the other main topics.
Persistence alters the interaction between Chlamydia trachomatis and its host cell.

In response to stress, the obligate intracellular pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis stops dividing and halts its biphasic developmental cycle. The infectious, extracellular form of this bacterium is highly susceptible to killing by the host immune response, and by pausing development, Chlamydia can survive in an intracellular, "aberrant" state for extended periods of time. The relevance of these aberrant forms has long been debated, and many questions remain concerning how they contribute to the persistence and pathogenesis of the organism. Using reporter cell lines, fluorescence microscopy, and a dipeptide labeling strategy, we measured the ability of C. trachomatis to synthesize, assemble, and degrade peptidoglycan under various aberrance-inducing conditions. We found that all aberrance-inducing conditions affect chlamydial peptidoglycan and that some actually halt the biosynthesis pathway early enough to prevent the release of an immunostimulatory peptidoglycan component, muramyl tripeptide. In addition, utilizing immunofluorescence and electron microscopy, we determined that the induction of aberrance can detrimentally affect the development of the microbe's pathogenic vacuole (the inclusion). Taken together, our data indicate that aberrant forms of Chlamydia generated by different environmental stressors can be sorted into two broad categories based on their ability to continue releasing peptidoglycan-derived, immunostimulatory muropeptides and their ability to secrete effector proteins that are normally expressed at the mid- and late stages of the microbe's developmental cycle. Our findings reveal a novel, immunoevasive feature inherent to a subset of aberrant chlamydial forms and provide clarity and context to the numerous persistence mechanisms employed by these ancient, genetically reduced microbes.
Network Architecture Search for Face Enhancement.

Various factors such as ambient lighting conditions, noise, motion blur, etc. affect the quality of captured face images. Poor quality face images often reduce the performance of face analysis and recognition systems. Hence, it is important to enhance the quality of face images collected in such conditions. We present a multi-task face restoration network, called Network Architecture Search for Face Enhancement (NASFE), which can enhance poor quality face images containing a single degradation (i.e. noise or blur) or multiple degradations (noise+blur+low-light). During training, NASFE uses clean face images of a person present in the degraded image to extract the identity information in terms of features for restoring the image. Furthermore, the network is guided by an identity-loss so that the identity in-formation is maintained in the restored image. Additionally, we propose a network architecture search-based fusion network in NASFE which fuses the task-specific features that are extracted using the task-specific encoders. We introduce FFT-op and deveiling operators in the fusion network to efficiently fuse the task-specific features. Comprehensive experiments on synthetic and real images demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms many recent state-of-the-art face restoration and enhancement methods in terms of quantitative and visual performance.
Money Earlier or Later? Simple Heuristics Explain Intertemporal Choices Better than Delay Discounting

Heuristic models have been proposed for many domains of choice. We compare heuristic models of intertemporal choice, which can account for many of the known intertemporal choice anomalies, to discounting models. We conduct an out-of-sample, cross-validated comparison of intertemporal choice models. Heuristic models outperform traditional utility discounting models, including models of exponential and hyperbolic discounting. The best performing models predict choices by using a weighted average of absolute differences and relative (percentage) differences of the attributes of the goods in a choice set. We conclude that heuristic models explain time-money tradeoff choices in experiments better than utility discounting models.
Endometrial cancer recurrence in the sacrum and the Psoas: A case report and literature review

Abstract Musculoskeletal metastasis of endometrial carcinoma is rare. Data regarding the management of metastatic disease to these sites is limited. We report a case of a 73-year-old woman who had surgery for endometrial adenocarcinoma (FIGO stage IB, Grade II) followed by vaginal cuff brachytherapy and one year later developed an isolated recurrence in the sacrum and iliopsoas muscle. She was treated with chemotherapy followed by whole pelvis radiation and a complete clinical response was achieved. At her last follow up, 12 months after the completion of the radiation, she had no clinical or radiologic evidence of disease.
Discontinuation and nonpublication of pediatric otolaryngology clinical trials.

Objectives Randomized controlled trial (RCT) discontinuation and nonpublication are potential mechanisms of waste in resources and lead to decreased advancement of medical science and compromised ethical issues in all specialties. However, the prevalence of discontinued or unpublished RCTs regarding common pediatric otolaryngology disorders and interventions remains unclear. Study design Cross-sectional analysis. Methods Retrospective analysis of common pediatric otolaryngology RCTs registered in ClinicalTrials.gov up until November 2, 2018. Data were collected from the registry, and publication status was identified. If a reason for trial discontinuation or nonpublication was not identified through a systematic search, corresponding trialists were contacted through email. Results After exclusion, 260 RCTs were included for analysis. Analysis found 198 (76%) RCTs were completed, and 62 (24%) trials were discontinued. The most commonly reported reasons for RCT discontinuation were program termination by sponsor or management (7/24; 29.2%), lack of participant enrollment, difficulty recruiting, or slow accrual (7/24; 29.2%). A total of 192 (192/260; 73.8%) published RCTs and 68 (68/260; 26.2%) unpublished RCTs were identified. Twenty-six (26/62; 42%) of the discontinued RCTs reached publication, while 36 (58%) remained unpublished. Regarding the completed RCTs, 166 of 198 (83.8%) completed trials reached publication, while 32 (32/198; 16.2%) remained unpublished after trial completion. Conclusions Approximately 1 in 4 of included RCTs were discontinued or did not reach publication. Findings suggest further guidance is needed for RCTs regarding common pediatric otolaryngology disorders and interventions. Level of evidence NA.
An improved synthesis of 1'-[18F]fluoroethyl-{beta}-D-lactose ([18F]-FEL) for PET imaging of pancreatic cancer

1297 Learning Objectives This abstract will demonstrate radiochemical synthesis of 18F-fluoroethyl lactose. Introduction: Earlier, we reported syntheses of ethyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1,4′)-2′-deoxy-2′-[18F]fluoro-β-D-glucopyranoside (Et-[18F]FDL) and 1′-[18F]fluoroethyl-β-D-lactose ([18F]-FEL) for positron emission tomography (PET) of pancreatic carcinoma. Et-[18F]FDL requires a precursor, which involves 11 steps to synthesize and produces overall low yields. Synthesis of precursors for [18F]-FEL requires 4 steps, but those precursors produced low radiochemical yields. Here, we report an improved synthesis of [18F]-FEL for PET imaging of pancreatic carcinomas. Methods: Two precursors, 19-(methanesulfonyl)ethyl-29,39,69,2,3,4,6-hepta-O-acetyl-β-D-lactose and 19-(p-nitrophenyl-sulfonyl)ethyl-29,39,69,2,3,4,6-hepta-O-acetyl-β-D-lactose were synthesized from lactose in four steps. Radiofluorinations were performed on those precursors using K18F/kryptofix, and the crude intermediate product 19-[18F]-fluoroethyl-29,39,69,2,3,4,6-hepta-O-acetyl-β-D-lactose was purified by HPLC. Basic hydrolysis of this intermediate [18F]-labeled compound produced [18F]-FEL, which was neutralized, diluted with saline and filtered through a 0.22 micron sterile filter and analyzed by radio-TLC. Results: Scheme 1 represents radiosynthesis of [18F]FEL. The average radiochemical yields of [18F]-labeled intermediate product (d. c.) from the nosylate was 65% (n=6) with > 99% radiochemical purity and specific activity of 55.5 GBq/μmol. The mesylate precursor produced only 21% yield of [18F]FEL. Synthesis time was 90 min from the end of bombardment (E.O.B.). Conclusion: A high-yield synthesis of [18F]FEL has been achieved with high purity and specific activity. [18F]FEL is suitable for PET imaging of pancreatic carcinomas. The nosylate precursor with this method should be applicable for automated production in a commercial synthesis module for clinical application. Research Support Cancer center Core grant CA016672
Data Mining in a Parallel Environment

In this section, we give a very brief introduction to parallel computing, with the aim of giving to the reader the basic knowledge needed to understand the parallel version of some of the data mining techniques discussed in this book.Avery simple example of a parallel algorithm is presented in Section 9.2. A parallel version of the k-means algorithm, the k-nearest neighbor decision rule, and the training phases of a neural network and a support vector machine are presented in Section 9.3.
'The Travellers' Guide to Mecca, the Glorious, by Way of England': The Pilgrimage of Muhaman Dikko, Emir of Katsina, in 1339 AH (1921 CE)

This paper examines the hajj of Muhaman Dikko, Emir of Katsina, from northern Nigeria to Mecca in 1339 AH (1921 CE) through an analysis of his personal account of the voyage as penned by his scribe. This pilgrimage was widely recognized as the first for a sitting Emir from northern Nigeria, and it was strongly facilitated by the British imperial government for public relations purposes. In the process of completing the pilgrimage, the Emir became the first indigenous ruler from northern Nigeria to meet the British monarch, and received an extensive tour of England and various representations of British imperial might along his route. At the same time, the Emir used the voyage for his own purposes, seeing it as an opportunity to strengthen his Emirate in relations with the outside world. He exchanged scientific and agricultural knowledge with British farmers, met many important political figures in Britain and the Hejaz, and raised awareness of the difficulties that prospective pilgrims from northern Nigeria faced on hajj. The deft balancing of the various agendas of Muhaman Dikkos pilgrimage presented in his official account offers a unique lens through which to analyze some of the key tensions of Empire in transnational contexts.
Thermal effects of hydrothermal circulation and seamount subduction: Temperatures in the Nankai Trough Seismogenic Zone Experiment transect, Japan

[1] We examine the thermal effects of seamount subduction. Seamount subduction may cause transient changes in oceanic crust hydrogeology and plate boundary fault position. Prior to subduction, seamounts provide high-permeability pathways between the basaltic crustal aquifer and overlying ocean that can focus fluid flow and efficiently cool the oceanic crust. As the seamount is subducted, the high-permeability pathway is closed, shutting down the advective transfer of heat. If significant fluid flow occurs, it would be restricted after seamount subduction and would result in a redistribution of heat warming the trench and cooling landward parts of the system. Additionally, subducting seamounts can influence the position of the plate boundary fault that has thermal consequences by locally controlling the proportions of incoming sediment that subduct and accrete. Shifting the decollement to the seafloor at the trench in the wake of seamount subduction causes limited cooling focused at the toe of the margin wedge. We apply these features of seamount subduction to a thermal model for the Nankai Trough Seismogenic Zone Experiment transect on the margin of Japan. Models with hydrothermal circulation provide an explanation for anomalously high surface heat flux observations near the trench. They yield temperatures of ∼100°C−295°C for the rupture area of the 1944 Tonankai earthquake. Temperatures in the region of episodic tremor and slip are estimated at ∼290°C–325°C, ∼70°C cooler than a model with no fluid circulation.
CPW to Rectangular Waveguide Transition on an ${\hbox{LiNbO}}_{3}$ Substrate

This paper presents transition from coplanar waveguide (CPW) to rectangular waveguide for W -band (75-110 GHz) operations. The waveguide consists of a cosine-shaped fin extending from the upper waveguide wall onto the CPW signal electrode. The design features direct integration of the waveguide with opto-electronic devices on lithium niobate (LiNbO3) for the applications of millimeter wave to optical signal processing. Simulations and measurements show that the model works very well over the entire W-band. Measurements of fabricated devices have yielded return loss of more than 10 dB and insertion loss of about 2.8 dB over the operating bandwidth.
Pulsed voltage pre-breakdown observations on silicon in vacuum

The flashover process consists of three phases: phase i is characterized by the presence of displacement, ohmic, or space-charge-limited (SCL) current; phase ii represents partial collapse in the applied voltage accompanied by luminosity and an increase in current; and phase iii, or flashover, consists of complete voltage collapse, rapid rise in current, and intense luminosity. The existence of low-level emission in the ultraviolet-visible range during phase i in the presence of well-established SCL current is shown. The luminosity exhibits an increase in intensity just prior to the initiation of phase ii, thus indicating the onset of device failure as evidenced by partial voltage collapse. The inception voltage for phase i luminosity shows a correlation with the onset of phase ii and iii processes, but no correlation with the conditioned flashover voltage is observed. Sample preparation can significantly increase the luminosity inception voltage. >
Slip history of the 2003 San Simeon earthquake constrained by combining 1-Hz GPS, strong motion, and teleseismic data

[1] The slip history of the 2003 San Simeon earthquake is constrained by combining strong motion and teleseismic data, along with GPS static offsets and 1-Hz GPS observations. Comparisons of a 1-Hz GPS time series and a co-located strong motion data are in very good agreement, demonstrating a new application of GPS. The inversion results for this event indicate that the rupture initiated at a depth of 8.5 km and propagated southeastwards with a speed 3.0 km/sec, with rake vectors forming a fan structure around the hypocenter. We obtained a peak slip of 2.8 m and total seismic moment of 6.2 10 18 Nm. We interpret the slip distribution as indicating that the hanging wall rotates relative to the footwall around the hypocenter, in a sense that appears consistent with the shape of the mapped fault trace. INDEX TERMS: 1242 Geodesy and Gravity: Seismic deformations (7205); 7212 Seismology: Earthquake ground motions and engineering; 8123 Tectonophysics: Dynamics, seismotectonics. Citation: Ji, C., K. M. Larson, Y. Tan, K. W. Hudnut, and K. Choi (2004), Slip history of the 2003 San Simeon earthquake constrained by combining 1-Hz GPS, strong motion, and teleseismic data, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L17608, doi:10.1029/2004GL020448.
Designing an effective trap cropping strategy: the effects of attraction, retention and plant spatial distribution

1.Trap cropping, the use of alternative host plants to reduce pest damage to a focal cash crop or other managed plant population, can be a sustainable strategy for pest control, but in practice it has often failed to reach management goals. Of the few successful trap cropping examples at a commercial scale, nearly all have included supplemental management strategies that reduce pest dispersal off the trap crop. In contrast, the trap cropping literature has focused extensively on trap plant attractiveness. 2.To test whether the dispersal of insects off trap plants is as important as the anecdotal evidence suggests, we developed a simple model to understand how a trap plant's spatial configuration within a field, its attractiveness and its ability to retain pests affect pest density on a target cash crop. 3.The model predicts that when trap crop retention is low, trap cropping is ineffective, and small increases in retention offer little improvement. However, when retention is high, small differences in retention dramatically affect trap cropping efficacy. In contrast, when the attractiveness of a trap crop is high, further increases in attractiveness have little effect on trap cropping efficacy. 4.Placing trap plants close together is most often detrimental to pest management because it leaves large portions of the field without nearby traps. However, planting the trap crop in rows often does not clump the landscape enough to cause this detrimental effect. 5.Synthesis and applications. The predictions from our model confirm the anecdotal evidence that trap cropping failures may be attributed to a focus on attraction at the expense of retention. A very high retention rate is required for effective reduction of pest densities. Therefore, additional practices that prevent insects from dispersing back into the cash crop may be essential for effective trap cropping designs. These techniques include trap vacuuming, trap harvesting, sticky traps, planting a high proportion of trap plants or applications of pesticides or natural enemies to the trap crop. © 2012 The Authors. Journal of Applied Ecology
Properties of Low-Strength Concrete for Meeks Cabin Dam Modification Project, Wyoming

Low-strength, plastic concrete mixtures were proportioned to construct a cut-off wall through permeable features in the foundation of Meeks Cabin Dam, Wyoming. Low strength concrete was required to match the deformation properties of the concrete with the embankment materials in the dam. The mixtures were proportioned with zero (control mixture), 10, 15, and 20% bentonite by mass of cement plus bentonite. The bentonite reduces compressive strength and elastic properties when compared to conventional concrete. Mixtures were proportioned to meet the desired fresh and hardened concrete properties. All mixtures met the 8 in. (200 mm) slump required for tremie placing. The design compressive strength is 200 lb/in.{sup 2} (1,380 kPa) at 7 days and 400 lb/in.{sup 2} (2,760 kPa) at 28 days. The 15% bentonite mixture met the strength requirements and was chosen for more detailed testing. Additional tests evaluated the triaxial shear strength, flow-pump permeability, and erodibility of the low-strength, hardened concrete, and determined the effect of adding a retarding mixture on setting time and slump loss of fresh concrete.
Mapping of the human plasmin domain recognized by the unique plasmin receptor of group A streptococci.

Abstract A high-affinity surface receptor for human plasmin has been reported on certain group A streptococci. To map the region of the plasmin molecule that binds to the bacterial receptor, isolated domains of plasmin were tested for their ability to inhibit the binding of intact radiolabeled plasmin to receptor-positive bacteria. Complete inhibition of binding of labeled plasmin to bacteria by isolated heavy chains was achieved, but this inhibition was not as efficient on a molar basis when compared with that of unlabeled plasmin. By contrast, a conformationally altered form of native plasminogen was found to bind to bacteria and was as efficient a competitive inhibitor as intact plasmin was. The results of this study indicate that the selective binding of human plasmin to a group A streptococcus is dependent on structures present in the conformationally altered form of native plasminogen or plasmin that are not found on the native zymogen, the plasminogen with NH2-terminal glutamic acid.