cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Advances in Financial Machine Learning: Lecture 1/10 (seminar slides)

Machine learning (ML) is changing virtually every aspect of our lives. Today ML algorithms accomplish tasks that until recently only expert humans could perform. As it relates to finance, this is the most exciting time to adopt a disruptive technology that will transform how everyone invests for generations. In this course, we discuss scientifically sound ML tools that have been successfully applied to the management of large pools of funds.
Coordinating across correctional, community, and VA systems: applying the Collaborative Chronic Care Model to post-incarceration healthcare and reentry support for veterans with mental health and substance use disorders.

Between 12,000 and 16,000 veterans leave incarceration annually. As is known to be the case for justice-involved populations in general, mental health disorders (MHDs) and substance use disorders (SUDs) are highly prevalent among incarcerated veterans, and individuals with MHDs and SUDs reentering the community are at increased risk of deteriorating health and recidivism. We sought to identify opportunities to better coordinate care/services across correctional, community, and VA systems for reentry veterans with MHDs and SUDs. We interviewed 16 veterans post-incarceration and 22 stakeholders from reentry-involved federal/state/community organizations. We performed a grounded thematic analysis, and recognizing consistencies between the emergent themes and the evidence-based Collaborative Chronic Care Model (CCM), we mapped findings to the CCM’s elements – work role redesign (WRR), patient self-management support (PSS), provider decision support (PDS), clinical information systems (CIS), linkages to community resources (LCR), and organizational/leadership support (OLS). Emergent themes included (i) WRR – coordination challenges among organizations involved in veterans’ reentry; (ii) PSS – veterans’ fear of reentering society; (iii) PDS – uneven knowledge by reentry support providers regarding available services when deciding which services to connect a reentry veteran to and whether he/she is ready and/or willing to receive services; (iv) CIS – lapses in MHD/SUD medications between release and a first scheduled health care appointment, as well as challenges in transfer of medical records; (v) LCR – inconsistent awareness of existing services and resources available across a disparate reentry system; and (vi) OLS – reentry plans designed to address only immediate transitional needs upon release, which do not always prioritize MHD/SUD needs. Applying the CCM to coordinating cross-system health care and reentry support may contribute to reductions in mental health crises and overdoses in the precarious first weeks of the reentry period.
Utilization of peritoneal dialysis in the United States: Reasons for underutilization, specifically in New York State and the boroughs of New York City.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is currently underutilized in the United States (US), even within resource-rich neighborhoods. We analyzed data from US Renal Data Service to determine PD utilization within the US, New York State (NYS), selected boroughs within New York City (NYC), and Boston, Massachusetts. We then compared the odds of selecting PD with hemodialysis (HD) and analyzed how diabetes mellitus status, age >65 years, gender, and race influenced PD utilization between 2010 and 2016. We then compared a high-volume PD center (HVC) with a low-volume PD center (LVC). The odds of starting PD vs HD were as follows: Brooklyn 0.30 (0.25-0.36; 65 significantly (<0.0001) influenced PD modality selection in Brooklyn and Boston. Differences between HVC and LVC in terms of modality transition, peritonitis rate, or provider:patient ratio were not statistically significant. Factors that influence PD utilization in urban neighborhoods are discussed and remediation measures are proposed.
You See Your Own Eyes Reflected Back: The Radical Potential of Art and Oral History in Imagining a New Humanism

The global reach of mass media leaves few unexposed to Western ideals and ideas, which privilege White and Eurocentric images. Through a combination of visual and narrative stereotypes, ads, movies...
Symptom Trajectories of Early Responders and Remitters among Youth with OCD

Abstract Objectives This study examined the phenomenology and predictors of early response and remission among youth with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) receiving cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Methods One hundred and thirty-nine youth with a current primary diagnosis of OCD participated in this study. Participants received 10 sessions of CBT augmented by either placebo or d -cycloserine (DCS) as part of a randomized double-blind multi-site clinical trial. Early response and remission status were determined by clinician-rated global symptom improvement (CGI-I) and severity (CGI-S), respectively. Results At the mid-treatment assessment, 45.3% of youth were early responders, and 28.1% were early remitters. At post-treatment assessment, 79.1% of youth were responders and 67.6% were remitters. Early response predicted a higher likelihood of post-treatment response and remission; early remission significantly predicted a higher likelihood of post-treatment remission. Bivariate logistic regressions showed that early response was predicted by lower baseline clinician-rated global severity (CGI-S) and lower depression severity; however, only depression severity remained a significant predictor in the multivariable logistic regression model. Furthermore, bivariate logistic regressions showed that early remission was predicted by lower baseline clinician-rated global severity (CGI-S), lower depression severity, and lower obsessive-compulsive symptom severity (CY-BOCS); however, only global severity remained a significant predictor in the multivariable logistic regression model. Conclusions Lower OCD and depression symptom severity predicted a greater likelihood of early treatment response and remission to CBT. Findings suggest that low OCD and depression symptom severity could serve as baseline characteristics to identify potential candidates for lower-intensity initial interventions in a stepped care approach. The modest predictive value of the variables examined suggests that additional factors could add to prediction of treatment response and remission. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00864123.
Reimagining U.S. Olympic Sports – How the Covid-19 Pandemic Serves as the Catalyst for Public Funding, Greater Transparency, and Increased Athlete Rights

The Amateur Sports Act was enacted over four decades ago when Olympic sports were still an “amateur” pursuit. That law created a self-funding system for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the national governing bodies for the respective Olympic sports. Its self-governance model resulted in a system of limited transparency and ineffective governance that culminated with the sex abuse scandals involving young athletes. With the growth and change in the now U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movement over the last four decades, this article advocates significant changes to the law to permit direct or indirect government funding for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the sport governing bodies in return for more stringent transparency and ethical rules. The new law should “federalize” a new governing body that will oversee the USOPC and the governing bodies and create additional rights for rights for athletes and required disclosure and ethics rules for the Olympic bodies. Because of the Covid pandemic and the funding shortfalls faced by the USOPC and the governing bodies, the article concludes that now is the time for such a major change.
Noninflammatory comedones have greater diversity in microbiome and are more prone to biofilm formation than inflammatory lesions of acne vulgaris

Background The ability of Cutibacterium acnes strains to form biofilms has been correlated with their virulence. Objective This study examined biofilm and skin microbiota in acne patients in order to understand their role in the development of acne lesions. Methods Thin sections of punch biopsy specimens of (i) uninflamed comedones, (ii) inflammatory lesions, and (iii) uninvolved adjacent skin of acne patients were examined. Epiflourescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy were used for biofilm detection, and pyrosequencing with taxonomic classification of 16s rRNA gene amplicons was used for microbiota analysis. Results Of the 39 skin specimens from patients with mild-moderate acne (n = 13) that were studied, nine (23%) contained biofilm. Among these specimens, biofilm was most frequently detected in comedones (55.6%) and less frequently in inflammatory papules (22.2%) and uninvolved skin (22.2%). Comedones demonstrated the highest mean alpha diversity of all the lesion subtypes. The relative abundance of Staphylococcus was significantly higher in comedones (11.400% ± 12.242%) compared to uninvolved skin (0.073% ± 0.185%, P = 0.024). Conclusions The microenvironment of the comedone differs from that of inflammatory lesions and unaffected skin. The increased frequency of biofilm in comedones may account for the lack of host inflammatory response to these lesions.
Analysis of epidemiological characteristics of hand-foot-mouth disease in Qingdao in 2013

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of hand-foot-mouth disease(HFMD) in Qingdao in 2013,and to provide the scientific evidence for making prevention and control measures.Methods The data of epidemic information of HFMD in Qingdao in 2013 reported by Report and Management System of National Disease Surveillance was statistically analyzed.And the results of laboratory monitoring were also analyzed.Measurement adta was used by chi-squre test and the analysis of time and space was used to describe the incidence of HMFD.Results A total of 6 043 cases of HFMD were reported in Qingdao in 2013,including 449 severe cases,and no death case occurred.The incidence rate of HFMD was 68.05/105.HFMD mainly occurred from June to August.The affected children mainly aged 0-5 years,with male more than female(the ratio of male to female was 1.61:1).The results of pathogen detection showed that the majority of the cases were enterovirus 71(EV71,41.62%) in Qingdao in 2013,followed by coxsackie virus A6(Cox A6,29.61%,175 cases),and Cox A16(11.34%,67 cases).Conclusion The occurrence of HFMD shows obvious difference in season,gender and age.Strengthening disease surveillance and conducting the study of the epidemiological characteristics and etiology of HFMD contribute to the prevention and control of HFMD.
Investigation of three-step epilayer growth approach of GaN films to minimize compensation

The heteroepitaxial growth of gallium nitride (GaN) films using three distinct growth steps is investigated in terms of improving the electrical properties of the layer. The first step involves the deposition of a fixed quality aluminum nitride (AlN) layer on an a-plane sapphire substrate. The second step is aimed at maximizing the GaN grain size initially grown on the AlN. The third step is aimed at optimizing the surface morphology of the GaN layer. The means of transitioning the growth between steps is investigated and an optimum transition method is reported. Growth parameters investigated include pressure, trimethylgallium molar flow rate, and ratio of group V to group III precursor molar flows. Carrier statistics show a lower level of compensation in films grown at a slower growth rate in the second step and a moderate rate in the third step.
BK channel-forming slo1 proteins mediate the brain artery constriction evoked by the neurosteroid pregnenolone.

Abstract Pregnenolone is a neurosteroid that modulates glial growth and differentiation, neuronal firing, and several brain functions, these effects being attributed to pregnenolone actions on the neurons and glial cells themselves. Despite the vital role of the cerebral circulation for brain function and the fact that pregnenolone is a vasoactive agent, pregnenolone action on brain arteries remain unknown. Here, we obtained in vivo concentration response curves to pregnenolone on middle cerebral artery (MCA) diameter in anesthetized male and female C57BL/6J mice. In both male and female animals, pregnenolone (1 nM-100 μM) constricted MCA in a concentration-dependent manner, its maximal effect reaching ~22–35% decrease in diameter. Pregnenolone action was replicated in intact and de-endothelialized, in vitro pressurized MCA segments with pregnenolone evoking similar constriction in intact and de-endothelialized MCA. Neurosteroid action was abolished by 1 μM paxilline, a selective blocker of Ca2+ - and voltage-gated K+ channels of large conductance (BK). Cell-attached, patch-clamp recordings on freshly isolated smooth muscle cells from mouse MCAs demonstrated that pregnenolone at concentrations that constricted MCAs in vitro and in vivo (10 μM), reduced BK activity (NPo), with an average decrease in NPo reaching 24.2%. The concentration-dependence of pregnenolone constriction of brain arteries and inhibition of BK activity in intact cells were paralleled by data obtained in cell-free, inside-out patches, with maximal inhibition reached at 10 μM pregnenolone. MCA smooth muscle BKs include channel-forming α (slo1 proteins) and regulatory β1 subunits, encoded by KCNMA1 and KCNMB1, respectively. However, pregnenolone-driven decrease in NPo was still evident in MCA myocytes from KCNMB1−/− mice. Following reconstitution of slo1 channels into artificial, binary phospholipid bilayers, 10 μM pregnenolone evoked slo1 NPo inhibition which was similar to that seen in native membranes. Lastly, pregnenolone failed to constrict MCA from KCNMA1−/− mice. In conclusion, pregnenolone constricts MCA independently of neuronal, glial, endothelial and circulating factors, as well as of cell integrity, organelles, complex membrane cytoarchitecture, and the continuous presence of cytosolic signals. Rather, this action involves direct inhibition of SM BK channels, which does not require β1 subunits but is mediated through direct sensing of the neurosteroid by the channel-forming α subunit.
Molecular Haeckel

More than a century ago, Ernst Haeckel created embryo drawings to illustrate the morphological similarity of vertebrate early embryos. These drawings have been both widely presented and frequently criticized. At the same time that the idea of morphological similarity was recently attacked, there has been a growing realization of molecular similarities in the development of tissues and organs. We have surveyed genes expressed in vertebrate embryos, and we have used them to construct drawings that we call Molecular Haeckels. The Molecular Haeckels emphasize that, based on gene expression, there is a greater similarity among vertebrate embryos than even Haeckel might have imagined. Developmental Dynamics 239:1905–1918, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Theoretical Perspectives on Decision Making

The chapter provides a broad review of theories of decision making, starting from a dominant cognitive view and shifting to more recent emphases on the essential roles of noncognitive factors such as motivation and emotion. The chapter distinguishes between rational and intuitive decision-making approaches and explores this continuum to reveal an overall nuanced understanding of decision processing. A comprehensive review of research studies examining the impact of goal motivations and personal agency beliefs on decision making, and a closer look at the role of affect, emotion, and stress, highlights the numerous influences on decision making and the different pathways decision-makers can use to arrive at satisfactory decision outcomes. With a focus on adolescents and adults in the general population, the chapter also explores the roles of personal and developmental factors in decision making, such as age, gender, personality, individual differences, and social and cultural influences. After establishing a broad theoretical context, the chapter presents an updated version of the Pathways Model of Decision Processing, an exploratory framework for guiding decision-making study and research involving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
External Tank Liquid Hydrogen (Lh2) Prepress Regression Analysis Independent Review Technical Consultation Report

The request to conduct an independent review of regression models, developed for determining the expected Launch Commit Criteria (LCC) External Tank (ET)-04 cycle count for the Space Shuttle ET tanking process, was submitted to the NASA Engineering and Safety Center NESC on September 20, 2005. The NESC team performed an independent review of regression models documented in Prepress Regression Analysis, Tom Clark and Angela Krenn, 10/27/05. This consultation consisted of a peer review by statistical experts of the proposed regression models provided in the Prepress Regression Analysis. This document is the consultation's final report.
SU‐E‐P‐59: A Graphical Interface for XCAT Phantom Configuration, Generation and Processing

Purpose: To design a comprehensive open-source, publicly available, graphical user interface (GUI) to facilitate the configuration, generation, processing and use of the 4D Extended Cardiac-Torso (XCAT) phantom. Methods: The XCAT phantom includes over 9000 anatomical objects as well as respiratory, cardiac and tumor motion. It is widely used for research studies in medical imaging and radiotherapy. The phantom generation process involves the configuration of a text script to parameterize the geometry, motion, and composition of the whole body and objects within it, and to generate simulated PET or CT images. To avoid the need for manual editing or script writing, our MATLAB-based GUI uses slider controls, drop-down lists, buttons and graphical text input to parameterize and process the phantom. Results: Our GUI can be used to: a) generate parameter files; b) generate the voxelized phantom; c) combine the phantom with a lesion; d) display the phantom; e) produce average and maximum intensity images from the phantom output files; f) incorporate irregular patient breathing patterns; and f) generate DICOM files containing phantom images. The GUI provides local help information using tool-tip strings on the currently selected phantom, minimizing the need for external documentation. The DICOM generation feature is intended to simplifymore » the process of importing the phantom images into radiotherapy treatment planning systems or other clinical software. Conclusion: The GUI simplifies and automates the use of the XCAT phantom for imaging-based research projects in medical imaging or radiotherapy. This has the potential to accelerate research conducted with the XCAT phantom, or to ease the learning curve for new users. This tool does not include the XCAT phantom software itself. We would like to acknowledge funding from MRA, Varian Medical Systems Inc.« less
Reference to Abstract Entities

Platonism, considered as a philosophy of mathematics, can be formulated in two interestingly different ways. Strong platonism holds that numerals, for example, refer to certain non-physical, non-mental entities. Weak platonism holds only that numerals uniquely apply to certain non-physical, non-mental entities. (Of course, there may even be weaker views that deserve to be called 'platonistic' The distinction between referring to an object and uniquely applying to an object may be illustrated as follows. If there is a tallest person and I say, 'the tallest person is over seven feet tall/ without knowing who that person is, then my use of 'the tallest person' uniquely applies to someone, but it does not refer to anyone. The distinction is at least as old as Russell, for we might put his views in our terms by saying that for Russell only logically proper names refer to things, while ordinary proper names and definite descriptions at best uniquely apply to things. It is a claim of Russell's that a given use of an expression can refer to something only if the user of that expression is directly acquainted with that thing ([17]:201). Some might wish to weaken this claim so as not to require the user of the expression to be directly acquainted with the referent of the expression. The claim then would be that a given use of
Abstract 13905: Global Longitudinal Strain is an Independent Predictor of Incident Atrial Fibrillation in the Elderly: a Community-Based Cohort Study

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) prevalence is increasing; it is therefore important to improve AF risk prediction to implement preventive strategies. While heart failure is an established risk factor for AF, it is not known whether global longitudinal strain (GLS), a parameter able to detect early left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction before LV ejection fraction (LVEF), can predict incident AF in the general population and especially in the elderly, who are at greater risk of AF and stroke. Methods: Participants from the community-based Northern Manhattan Study underwent two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography as part of the Cardiac Abnormalities and Brain Lesions (CABL) study, and were followed up for incident AF. Subjects with history of AF, AF at enrollment, or significant valve disease were excluded. LV systolic function was assessed by LVEF and by speckle-tracking GLS. Results: Mean age of the study sample (n=633) was 71±9 years, 61% were women, 77% had hypertension, 27% diabetes, and 5% history of coronary artery disease. During a mean follow-up of 5.4±1.5 years, 28 new cases of AF (4.4%) were recorded. GLS was significantly lower in those who developed AF compared to those who did not (-15.4±4.3% vs. -17.3±2.9%, p Conclusions: In an elderly community cohort, lower LV systolic function assessed by GLS was associated with future development of AF, whereas LVEF was not. The association was independent of cardiovascular risk factors and established echocardiographic predictors of AF including left atrial volume. GLS assessment may significantly improve AF risk stratification in the elderly.
Incremental modeling and verification of flexible manufacturing systems

An FMS is a typical real-time concurrent system composed of a number of computer-controlled machine tools, automated material handling and storage systems that operate as an integrated system under the control of host computer(s). The growing demand for higher performance and flexibility in these systems and the interlocking factors of concurrency, deadline-driven activities, and real-time decision making pose a significant challenge to FMS design, especially in terms of control and scheduling. A formal engineering approach that helps handle the complexity and dynamics of FMS modeling, design and analysis is needed. A real-time architectural specification (RAS) model and its application in the modeling of flexible manufacturing system (FMS) are presented. RAS combines mature operational and descriptive formal methods, in particular time Petri nets (TPN) and real-time computational tree logic (RTCTL), to form an integrated system model for architectural specification and analysis of real-time concurrent systems such as FMS. The contribution of RAS is twofold: First, it provides a formal system to systematically maintain a strong correlation between (real-time) requirements and design and to verify the conformance of the design to the requirements, which helps enhance traceability and thus to help us to achieve high assurance in design. Second, it offers better scalability in modeling and analysis, which provides an effective way to deal with complexity in the application of formal methods. These two features together make RAS a suitable model for the design of FMS.
A 38-Year-Old Man With Obesity, Intermittent Tachycardia, and One Episode of Syncope

A 38-year-old man with history of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity was referred to the electrophysiology clinic for evaluation of infrequent palpitations and remote history of syncope. The patient described a sensation of racing of the heart, which lasted about 30 min to 1 h and occurred several times over the past year. This was associated with a sense of anxiety and shortness of breath and appeared to resolve spontaneously. The patient also experienced one episode of syncope in the past while enjoying a barbecue on a hot summer day. He did not recall if this episode was accompanied by palpitations, however, the previously mentioned symptoms prompted the consultation. Upon further questioning the patient also reported experiencing fatigue. He stated that he noted decreased energy and frequent daytime sleepiness.
AML sensitivity to YM155 is modulated through AKT and Mcl-1

HL60 and U937 (acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines) were assessed for sensitivity to YM155, and found to have distinct sensitive and resistant phenotypes, respectively. In HL60 cells, YM155 inhibition of growth proliferation was due to apoptosis which was measured by annexin V/PI staining. YM155 induced apoptosis through activation of intrinsic and extrinsic pathways that also culminated in caspase-3 activity and PARP cleavage. YM155 sensitivity was partially associated with this compound's ability to down-regulate survivin transcription since this was more pronounced in the HL60 cell line. However, marked differences were also observed in XIAP, Bcl-2, and Mcl-1L, and Mcl-1s. Furthermore, YM155 treatment completely inhibited production of total Akt protein in HL60, but not U937 cells. Importantly, Akt activity (pAkt-Ser473) levels were maintained in YM155 treated U937 cells which may help stabilize other anti-apoptotic proteins. Combination treatments with an Akt inhibitor, MK-2206, reduced levels of pAkt-Ser473 in U937 cells and synergistically sensitized them to YM155 cytotoxicity. Collectively our results indicate that Akt signaling may be an important factor mediating YM155 response in AML, and combinatorial therapies with Akt inhibitors could improve treatment efficacy in YM155-resistant cells.
Numerical simulation of Black-Scholes model for American options

We consider the penalty method approach, and corresponding numerical schemes, for solving the Black-Scholes model of the American Option. Standard methods involve the need to solve a system of nonlinear equations, evolving from the finite difference discretization of the nonlinear Black-Scholes model, at each time step by a Newton-type iterative procedure. We analyze the well-known linearly implicit /spl theta/-methods that arise by treating the nonlinear penalty term explicitly thus avoiding iteration. In addition, we have implemented an adaptive time step control strategy to increase computational efficiency.
Finite element elastic-plastic analysis of cracks

Abstract The finite element method is used to investigate a fatigue type loading. A crack closure algorithm is evaluated and discussed. This algorithm is implemented in the SNAP program and found to be satisfactory with linear or quadratic element formulations.
A multivariate evaluation of an office ergonomic intervention using longitudinal data

The present study used longitudinal data from an alternative keyboard intervention study to test pathways between physical, work organization/psychosocial, stress and musculoskeletal symptom factors postulated by Sauter and Swanson in their ecological model of musculoskeletal disorders in office work. Data on work organization, stress and musculoskeletal symptoms were collected from 189 office workers at baseline and 1 year later. After baseline, an alternative keyboard was provided to half of the participants, while the remaining participants continued using a conventional keyboard. Regression analyses on the Year 1–baseline difference scores revealed significant relationships for keyboard condition and musculoskeletal symptoms, keyboard condition and work organization and work organization and stress. However, the relationships between work organization and musculoskeletal symptoms, keyboard condition and stress and stress and musculoskeletal symptoms were not significant. Thus, the analyses provided pa...
Book Review of "Measuring Vulnerability to Natural Hazards"

MEASURING VULNERABILITY TO NATURAL HAZARDS, EDITED BY: JORN BIRKMANN, UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY PRESS, TOKYO, 524 PAGES, ISBN-10 92-808-1135-5, ISBN-13 978-92-808-1135-5, PAPERBACK, PRICE US$ 39.00, 2006. The United Nations University Press has published a number of books related to natural, environmental, and technological risk assessment and reduction. A welcomed addition to the collection is a volume on the vulnerability to natural hazards. Despite natural hazards causing frequent and widespread damage to the population, the built-up environment, and the economy in many areas of the world, little is known about the vulnerability to natural hazards. This is surprising, as vulnerability is mandatory information to determine risk. Vulnerability essentially is the potential to experience adverse impacts; a measure of the damage suffered by an element at risk when affected by a hazardous process or event. Elements at risk commonly comprise the population, properties, economic activities, public services and the environment. The book, coordinated by Jorn Birkmann, an academic officer at the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security, and Chair of an International Expert Working Group on Measuring Vulnerability, is a compilation of 24 chapters on the vulnerability to natural hazards and the evaluation of the associated risks. Considered geophysical, meteorological and climatic hazards include earthquakes, volcanic activity, tsunamis, floods, landslides, droughts and cyclones. Emphasis is given to vulnerability measurement for risk reduction or, as the book sub-title reads, to establish disaster resilient societies. Forty authors – the majority of which are planners, risk managers, and civil defence experts – discuss attempts to measure vulnerability to natural hazards at multiple geographical scales, from the local to the global scale. The individual chapters present different concepts, methodolo-
Sulfonated Polybenzimidazoles for High Temperature PEM Fuel Cells

High molecular weight, highly PA-doped s-PBI membranes have been developed with robust mechanical properties and excellent proton conductivities (>0.1 S cm−1) at elevated temperatures (>100 °C). These membranes show high PA loadings of 30−35 mol PA/PBI, and average tensile stress and strain of 0.804 MPa and 69.64%, respectively. Proton conductivities were dependent on the acid doping level and measured between 0.1 and 0.25 S cm−1 at 180 °C, a pronounced increase over most phosphoric acid-doped sulfonated PBI membranes to date. Preliminary fuel cell testing with hydrogen fuel and air or oxygen oxidants was performed at temperatures greater than 100 °C without external feed gas humidification and show excellent performance (0.62−0.68 V at 0.2 A cm−2 and 160 °C, hydrogen/air; 0.69−0.76 V at 0.2 A cm−2 and 160 °C, hydrogen/oxygen). Initial performance stability studies were conducted for ∼3000 h and indicate great promise as high temperature membranes, with a degradation rate of 30 μV h−1.
The importance of interfacial resistance on the thermal behavior of carbon nanofiber/epoxy composites

This research addresses the thermal transport in carbon nanofiber (CNF)/epoxy composites via finite element modeling. The effects of nanofiber orientation on thermal transport are investigated through Fourier’s Law of heat conduction and through simulation of a high magnitude, short heat pulse. The effect of interface thermal resistance on the effective composite thermal conductivity is also quantified. In addition, a simplified lightning strike simulation is modeled in order to analyze the effect of interfacial thermal resistance on composite behavior when subjected to multiple short heat pulses.
Spinal manifestation of neurolisteriosis.

Spinal symptoms in acute bacterial meningitis are rare. In a series of 10 cases of neurolisteriosis, we observed 2 spinal complications, one due to an acute intramedullary abscess, the other caused by chronic spinal arachnoiditis. Therefore, if spinal symptoms develop in acute bacterial meningitis,Listeria monocytogenes infection should be considered and early adequate antibiotic treatment be implemented.
Effects of Pearling on Falling Number and α‐Amylase Activity of Preharvest Sprouted Spring Wheat

ABSTRACT Preharvest sprouted wheat is often characterized by the falling number (FN) test. FN decreases in preharvest sprouted wheat as enzymatic degradation of the starchy endosperm increases. Wheat with FN values -0.97) in the med-low, medium, and med-high FN sample sets as pearling time increased. FN increased in the medlow, medium, and med-high FN samples by 128, 123, and 80%, respectively, after 120 sec of pearling. Pearling had no effect on flour FN of the low FN sample but α-amylase activity was significantly decreased. Pearling had littl...
Maternal Mortality in the Islamic Republic of Iran: On Track and in Transition

The Maternal Mortality Ratio is an important public health indicator that reflects both the quality of a health care system and the role of women within that society. In September 2000 the United Nations Millennium Declaration outlined the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that set targets to be achieved by 2015. MDG 5 focused on improving maternal health. It had two clear subgoals: to reduce maternal mortality globally by three quarters between 1990 and 2015 and to obtain universal access to reproductive health for women. Despite a global trend of declining maternal mortality only a handful of nations are currently ‘on track’ to achieve their MDG targets by 2015. The Islamic Republic of Iran is one of these nations. In just over three decades, Iran has undergone demographic transition with significant reductions in total fertility and population growth rates. In concert with this transition, Iran has achieved a dramatic decline in the maternal mortality ratio that has fallen to a rate comparable with developed nations. Significantly Iran has also experienced a paradigm shift in its major causes of maternal mortality from those characteristic of developing nations (postpartum haemorrhage, infection) to causes more commonly seen in developed nations (pulmonary embolus, stroke). There is no single explanation that may account for this transition, rather it is the product of a number of different initiatives that have incorporated family planning, grass roots focus and wider improvements within the health care system of Iran over the past three decades. However the experience of this nation may provide a useful example to other developing countries looking to reduce maternal mortality.
Survival in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension treated with first-line bosentan

Background Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease of the small pulmonary arteries and arterioles, characterized by intimal fibrosis, medial hypertrophy and plexiform lesions. When untreated both the idiopathic form (IPAH, formerly termed primary pulmonary hypertension, PPH) and PAH related to various other conditions such as scleroderma (SSc) often take a progressive course with high mortality. There is ongoing search for disease-specific treatments that are able to improve survival in these patients. The oral dual endothelin (ET A /ET B ) antagonist bosentan has been shown to improve exercise capacity, time to clinical worsening, haemodynamics and quality of life in short-term studies. Materials and methods To determine the long-term effects of bosentan on survival, patients from the two double-blind, randomized trials and their open-label extensions, treated with first-line bosentan, were followed for up to 3 years. Data on survival were collected between September 1999 (first patient included in the placebo-controlled trials) and December 2002. Vital status was verified in each patient. The survival cohorts of these patients were compared with either the predicted survival for each patient based on an equation from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) PPH registry or with historical controls. Results Observed survival up to 36 months was reported as a Kaplan-Meier estimate in three cohorts: (1) In 169 PPH patients treated with first-line bosentan, 1- and 2-year survival was 96% and 89%, respectively, vs. predicted untreated survival at 1 and 2 years of 69% and 57%, respectively; (2) in 50 patients with PAH associated with SSc (PAH-SSc), 1-, 2- and 3-year survival was 82%, 67% and 64%, respectively, vs. ∼ 45%, ∼ 35% and ∼ 28%, respectively, from registry data of untreated PAH-SSc patients; and (3) in 139 PPH patients in WHO functional class III, 1- and 2-year survival was 97% and 91%, respectively, vs. 91% and 84% in a historical cohort of 346 patients treated with epoprostenol in five major referral centres.
Nonparametric bayes estimation of the probability of discovering a new species

A random sample is taken from a population consisting of an unknown number of distinct species. The parameter of interest is the probability of discovering a new species when an additional draw from the population is made. Recently, Clayton and Frees (1987) introduced a new nonparametric estimator of this parameter as an alternative to Starr's (1979) minimum variance unbiased estimator. In this paper, the Bayes estimator of the parameter is derived using the Dirichlet process prior and the squared error loss function. The limiting Bayes estimator is shown to have asymptotically normal distribution. A Monte Carlo study of these estimators is provided, and their merits and shortcomings are discussed.
Neck Loads in Playground Activities in a Pediatric Population

Neck injury assessment reference values (IARVs) and tolerance values for children have been specified using animal data compared to the loading of anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs). However, there is a paucity of data regarding the neck loads generated during non-injurious situations for children. Six males and six females aged 8-11 years old were equipped with a validated head sensor package and upper neck loads and moments were calculated from measured head kinematics while performing a series of playground-type activities. The maximum forces were 686 N in compression, 177 N in tension, and 471 N in shear, the maximum moments were 18.2 N-m in flexion, 6.0 N-m in extension, 6.4 N-m in lateral bending, and 12.1 N-m in axial twist. Female subjects exhibited similar loads and moments to their male counterparts, but larger Nij values. The peak loads measured in this study are larger than or comparable to those undertaken with adult subjects participating in similar activities. These data provide details of the non-injurious upper neck loads that occur in pediatric subjects. Language: en
Recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG vector system expressing SIV Gag protein stably and persistently induces antigen-specific humoral immune response concomitant with IFNγ response, even at three years after immunization

A vaccine against HIV-1 infection absolutely needs the ability to effectively elicit virus-specific immunity over a long term; nevertheless, there have been few studies indicating that the immunoinductivity of such a candidate vaccine has been researched for several years running. In a previous report, we demonstrated that recombinant BCG (rBCG) expressing the full-length gag gene of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) (rBCG-SIVgag) induced Gag-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity, T cell proliferation, gamma interferon (IFN gamma), and serum IgG responses in guinea pigs immunized intradermally (i.d.) with 0.1 mg for the 1-year period of study. Especially, the production of long-lasting Gag-specific serum IgG in the vaccinated animals perhaps reflects the persistent antigenic stimulation by rBCG-SIVgag. How long, we questioned, will such immune responses to Gag engendered by the rBCG-SIVgag vaccination persist without booster immunizations? To learn this, we examined Gag-specific IgG production in sera and Gag-specific IFN gamma mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in guinea pigs vaccinated with rBCG-SIVgag i.d. (0.1 mg) or orally (80 mg x 2) during a 3-year period. As a result, Gag-specific serum IgG was highly generated for 3 years at similar levels between the i.d. and the orally immunized guinea pigs (IgG2>IgG1). The enhancement of IFN gamma mRNA expression by in vitro restimulation with Gag antigen was also detected in PBMC from the two immunization groups throughout the 3-year observation period. In guinea pigs immunized i.d. with rBCG-SIVgag, a high level of Gag-specific IFN gamma response was observed at 1 year after vaccination, whereas the response has waned gradually. The current study indicates that i.d. and oral inoculations of rBCG-SIVgag elicit stable, strong, Gag-specific serum IgG production while exhibiting the different kinetics of Gag-specific IFN gamma responses between i.d. and oral vaccination routes. This suggests that the rBCG vector system expressing an appropriate size of foreign antigen gene should be suited for the induction of the antigen-specific humoral immunity concomitant with an IFN gamma response.
Identification of microorganisms by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of cellular fatty acids.

Abstract The cellular fatty acid compositions of strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. cepacia, and P. maltophilia were determined by gas-liquid chromatography. A variety of acids was detected in these organisms, including branched and straight-chain acids, cyclopropane, and hydroxy acids. Comparison of the presence and relative amounts of these acdis was useful in distinguishing the three species. Three branched-chain hydroxy acids not found in other bacteria were present in P. maltophilia and were identified by gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and infrared spectroscopy.
Examining the mediating effect of learning strategies on the relationship between students’ history interest and achievement

Research into the effect of interest consistently indicated that interest positively related to students’ achievement; however, the mechanism through which it affected the learning result remained an open question. This study intended to examine how learning strategies mediated the relationship between interest and achievement in the domain of history learning. Biggs Learning Process Questionnaire, which distinguishes between the surface and deep-level learning strategies, was adopted to describe students’ learning process. Structural equation modelling and the distribution of products test were used to evaluate the mediating effect. Based on available resources, the participants were seventh grade students in China. Analyses revealed that the surface-learning strategy served as a mediator, but the deep-learning strategy did not play the same role.
Race-Conscious Educational Policies Versus a “Color-Blind Constitution”: A Historical Perspective

This article examines the origins and development of citizenship and equal rights by the Reconstruction Congress (1865–1875) to determine if it created a new constitutional order that is color blind and thus prohibits the use of racial classifications by government to achieve school desegregation and affirmative action programs. The theory of color-blind constitutionalism, although pursued relentlessly by a small cadre of radical Republicans, stood in marked contrast to the views of the moderate-conservative majority, a group virtually obsessed with the ways in which race affected fundamental questions of citizenship, civil equality, and political power. Only through a multiethnic history can we comprehend the variegated and profound ways in which racial ideology shaped the beliefs and behavior of the Reconstruction Congress and the ways in which Congress carefully crafted the meaning and intent of citizenship and equality in the new constitutional order, one that serves as the legal foundation for contem...
A 0.55V 61dB-SNR 67dB-SFDR 7MHz 4 th -order Butterworth filter using ring-oscillator-based integrators in 90nm CMOS

Integrators are key building blocks in many analog signal processing circuits and systems. They are typically implemented using either an opamp-RC or a G m -C architecture depending on bandwidth and linearity requirements. The performance of both these topologies depends on the operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) used to implement the integrator. Reduced supply voltage and lower transistor output impedance make it difficult to implement high-gain wide-bandwidth OTAs in a power-efficient manner. Consequently, the DC gain of the integrator is often severely limited when designed in deep-submicron CMOS processes. Conventional integrators employ multi-stage OTAs operating in weak inversion and forward body biasing to achieve large DC gain at low supply voltages [1]. These techniques require automatic biasing to guarantee robust operation under all conditions and the use of frequency compensation combined with large dimensions needed to bias the transistors in weak inversion severely limits the bandwidth and increases power dissipation. In this paper, we propose a ring-oscillator-based integrator (ROI) that seeks to overcome the limitations of conventional OTA-based integrators.
The importance of "Why?"

lem is substantial, it need not be solved in its entirety before it is ready to be written up and submitted. It is often useful to divide the work on a problem into portions and to target differ ent portions to suitable journals. Within the portions, detailed outlines and multiple drafts are invaluable (Hamada and Sitter noted this as well) both to clarify what needs to be done to com plete a manuscript as well as to help articulate the partitioning into portions. A related notion is that a successful research program requires "multi-tasking." You should plan to be involved in more than one project, to work on more than one problem. The variety will make the research component of your life more interesting, will help you through lulls in any particular project, and will ensure that you have several manuscripts proceeding through the publication pipeline at any given time. Though at first thought it may seem peripheral, it is very im portant to be visible in the community or at least in the sub communities that are working in the areas you are interested in. Of course, this means readily accepting seminar invitations and regularly traveling to conferences. Smaller, more focused gath erings are particularly worthwhile. Participation in such meet ings through poster sessions enables you to show your work to others (and, of course, enables you to see what others are do ing). Stimulating conversations ensue, research relationships are facilitated, friendships are made. I conclude with a comforting thought. We are fortunate that statistics is a very supportive discipline. We do not tend to be protective, competitive, or ruthless with regard to our work. This may be due to the fact that we are not a "glamor" field, we are not a field where the prize is to the first one there. But we tend to be a nurturing field. Established researchers eagerly draw junior people into projects and happily attempt to provide mentoring. You certainly need not travel your research path alone.
IgG subclass levels in pediatric patients on chronic peritoneal dialysis

Patients maintained on chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD) have been reported to have a variety of abnormalities of humoral immunity, including hypogammaglobulinemia, altered response to vaccination, and selective absence of IgG2. We measured serum immunoglobulin and IgG subclass levels in 22 pediatric CPD patients followed at our institution; 8 patients had low total IgG; 4 of these had low levels of IgG2 and 3 also had low IgG1, but IgG2 levels were detected in all patients. Thus, many pediatric CPD patients may have low IgG, and some may have low IgG1 and IgG2 as a reflection of low total IgG. However, we did not demonstrate a selective absence of IgG2 in these patients.