cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CO2 capture performance of silver-carbonate membrane with electrochemically dealloyed porous silver matrix

Abstract Developing advanced cost-effective, energy-efficient and CO2-selective carbon capture technologies to curb carbon emissions and mitigate global warming effect is of paramount importance to a sustainable future. In the present study, we report on the permeation performance of a silver-carbonate dual-phase CO2 separation membrane with the porous silver matrix prepared by electrochemical dealloying method. The membrane exhibits excellent CO2/O2 flux densities of 0.6/0.37, 0.74/0.47, 0.89/0.59 and 1.02/0.75 ml/min cm2 at 600, 625, 650 and 675 °C respectively, and stability over 500 h with a very low leakage rate. A new transport mechanism involving the change of dominant reactive sites from triple phase boundaries to two-phase boundaries is also proposed to understand behaviors of the membrane exhibited during the CO2/O2 permeation process.
IL-22: Scavenging beyond the barrier

IL-22–induced hemopexin promotes nutritional immunity by scavenging iron from Citrobacter rodentium during systemic infection.
Detecting Intentional Packet Drops on the Internet via TCP/IP Side Channels

We describe a method for remotely detecting intentional packet drops on the Internet via side channel inferences. That is, given two arbitrary IP addresses on the Internet that meet some simple requirements, our proposed technique can discover packet drops (e.g., due to censorship) between the two remote machines, as well as infer in which direction the packet drops are occurring. The only major requirements for our approach are a client with a global IP Identifier (IPID) and a target server with an open port. We require no special access to the client or server. Our method is robust to noise because we apply intervention analysis based on an autoregressive-moving-average (ARMA) model. In a measurement study using our method featuring clients from multiple continents, we observed that, of all measured client connections to Tor directory servers that were censored, 98% of those were from China, and only 0.63% of measured client connections from China to Tor directory servers were not censored. This is congruent with current understandings about global Internet censorship, leading us to conclude that our method is effective.
Introduction: Some Loose Talk About Gossip

This chapter introduces the book’s argument. Despite its bad reputation, gossip is a crucial epistemic tool for marginalized people, as a way of comparing ideas and constructing arguments.
Enlight: A Comprehensive Quality and Therapeutic Potential Evaluation Tool for Mobile and Web-Based eHealth Interventions

Background: Studies of criteria-based assessment tools have demonstrated the feasibility of objectively evaluating eHealth interventions independent of empirical testing. However, current tools have not included some quality constructs associated with intervention outcome, such as persuasive design, behavior change, or therapeutic alliance. In addition, the generalizability of such tools has not been explicitly examined. Objective: The aim is to introduce the development and further analysis of the Enlight suite of measures, developed to incorporate the aforementioned concepts and address generalizability aspects. Methods: As a first step, a comprehensive systematic review was performed to identify relevant quality rating criteria in line with the PRISMA statement. These criteria were then categorized to create Enlight. The second step involved testing Enlight on 42 mobile apps and 42 Web-based programs (delivery mediums) targeting modifiable behaviors related to medical illness or mental health (clinical aims). Results: A total of 476 criteria from 99 identified sources were used to build Enlight. The rating measures were divided into two sections: quality assessments and checklists. Quality assessments included usability, visual design, user engagement, content, therapeutic persuasiveness, therapeutic alliance, and general subjective evaluation. The checklists included credibility, privacy explanation, basic security, and evidence-based program ranking. The quality constructs exhibited excellent interrater reliability (intraclass correlations=.77-.98, median .91) and internal consistency (Cronbach alphas=.83-.90, median .88), with similar results when separated into delivery mediums or clinical aims. Conditional probability analysis revealed that 100% of the programs that received a score of fair or above (≥3.0) in therapeutic persuasiveness or therapeutic alliance received the same range of scores in user engagement and content—a pattern that did not appear in the opposite direction. Preliminary concurrent validity analysis pointed to positive correlations of combined quality scores with selected variables. The combined score that did not include therapeutic persuasiveness and therapeutic alliance descriptively underperformed the other combined scores. Conclusions: This paper provides empirical evidence supporting the importance of persuasive design and therapeutic alliance within the context of a program’s evaluation. Reliability metrics and preliminary concurrent validity analysis indicate the potential of Enlight in examining eHealth programs regardless of delivery mediums and clinical aims. [J Med Internet Res 2017;19(3):e82]
A Multifaceted Organizational Physician Assessment Program: Validity Evidence and Implications for the Use of Performance Data

Abstract Objective To provide validity evidence for a multifaceted organizational program for assessing physician performance and evaluate the practical and psychometric consequences of 2 approaches to scoring (mean vs top box scores). Participants and Methods Participants included physicians with a predominantly outpatient practice in general internal medicine (n=95), neurology (n=99), and psychiatry (n=39) at Mayo Clinic from January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2014. Study measures included hire year, patient complaint and compliment rates, note-signing timeliness, cost per episode of care, and Likert-scaled surveys from patients, learners, and colleagues (scored using mean ratings and top box percentages). Results Physicians had a mean ± SD of 0.32±1.78 complaints and 0.12±0.76 compliments per 100 outpatient visits. Most notes were signed on time (mean ± SD, 96%±6.6%). Mean ± SD cost was 0.56±0.59 SDs above the institutional average. Mean ± SD scores were 3.77±0.25 on 4-point and 4.06±0.31 to 4.94±0.08 on 5-point Likert-scaled surveys. Mean ± SD top box scores ranged from 18.6%±16.8% to 90.7%±10.5%. Learner survey scores were positively associated with patient survey scores ( r =0.26; P =.003) and negatively associated with years in practice ( r =−0.20; P =.02). Conclusion This study provides validity evidence for 7 assessments commonly used by medical centers to measure physician performance and reports that top box scores amplify differences among high-performing physicians. These findings inform the most appropriate uses of physician performance data and provide practical guidance to organizations seeking to implement similar assessment programs or use existing performance data in more meaningful ways.
Effectiveness of Treatment Modalities on Kidney Stone Recurrence

Nephrolithiasis is highly prevalent across all demographic groups in the Western world and beyond, and its incidence rates are rising. In addition to the morbidity of the acute event, stone disease often becomes a lifelong problem that requires preventative therapy to diminish ongoing morbidity. Across the majority of stone types, increased fluid intake and targeted dietary modifications are mainstays of therapy. Specific dietary interventions associated with reduced calcium stone risk include adequate dietary calcium intake and restriction of sodium, protein, and oxalate intake, among others. Pharmaceutical therapy may be required if lifestyle changes are insufficient to minimize risk of stone recurrence, and must be targeted to the specific metabolic abnormalities portending risk for a given patient. Therapeutic options for idiopathic calcium stone disease include thiazides, citrate salts, and uric acid–lowering agents. Alkali salts are also the treatment of choice for uric acid stone disease. Management of struvite stone disease is largely surgical, but acetohydroxamic acid is a proven second line therapy. Cystinuria requires lifestyle modifications and may call for thiol-binding agents. Significant heterogeneity of the clinical population with stone disease has previously limited opportunities for large randomized controlled trials. However, as clinical phenotypes and genotypes are increasingly clarified, there are mounting opportunities for targeted randomized controlled trials in stone prevention. In the meantime, the currently available evidence for both lifestyle and pharmacologic interventions is reviewed herein.
PREDATION ON SCARLET MACAW (ARA MACAO CYANOPTERA) CHICKS BY COLLARED FOREST FALCONS (MICRASTUR SEMITORQUATUS) IN THE MAYA BIOSPHERE RESERVE, GUATEMALA

Abstract ∙ Through efforts of the Wildlife Conservation Society, poaching in an important Scarlet Macaw ( Ara macao cyanoptera ) nesting area in the Maya Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala had been reduced to zero by 2004. However, during long‐term monitoring of the nesting success of Scarlet Macaws in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, unexplained or unknown disappearance of chicks from nests was common despite the aforementioned reduction in poaching. To determine the cause of these disappearances, we installed five video camera surveillance systems in the nest cavities during the 2008 nesting season. Fatal attacks on chicks by Collared Forest Falcons ( Micrastur semitorquatus ) were recorded at three of these nests. This result highlights natural predation as a limiting factor for the recruitment of new individuals into the Scarlet Macaw population in the Maya Biosphere Reserve even when poaching is suppressed. Resumen ∙ Depredacion de pichones de Guacamayas Rojas ( Ara macao cyanoptera ) por Halcones Selvaticos de Collar ( Micrastur semitorquatus ) en la Reserva de la Biosfera Maya, Guatemala A traves de los esfuerzos de la Wildlife Conservation Society, el robo de pichones de Guacamayas Rojas ( Ara macao cyanoptera ) en una importante zona de anidacion de la Reserva de la Biosfera Maya en Guatemala ha sido reducido a cero desde el ano 2004. Sin embargo, durante el monitoreo a largo plazo del exito de anidacion de las guacamayas rojas en la Reserva de la Biosfera Maya, la desaparicion por razones desconocidas de pichones de los nidos fue comun a pesar de la reduccion de robos anteriormente mencionada. Para determinar la causa de estas desapariciones, instalamos cinco sistemas de vigilancia de camaras de video en los nidos durante la temporada de anidacion de 2008. En tres de estos cinco nidos se registraron ataques fatales contra pichones por parte del Halcon Selvatico de Collar ( Micrastur semitorquatus ). Este resultado destaca la depredacion natural como un factor limitante para el reclutamiento de nuevos individuos en la poblacion de Guacamayas Rojas en la Reserva de la Biosfera Maya, incluso cuando se suprime el robo de pichones.
The Universe of Modern Science and its Philosophical Exploration

Our ultimate concern is with some larger aspects of the interpretation and significance of the world-view of science: questions about the nature of the knowledge that has been acquired, about the extent to which we can consider it to be knowledge, about the methods by which it has been acquired, about what constitute adequate reasons for belief, about what it is for something to exist and to have properties, about humanity’s place in the universe, about humanity’s values and their basis, and about the means and possibilities of fulfilling them. These are questions which have traditionally been assigned to the philosophy of science or to philosophy more generally. What is the relevance of the current scientific picture of the universe to such questions?
A Framework for Incorporating the Impact of Water Quality on Water Supply Stress: An Example from Louisiana, USA

Water of poor quality can directly impact the budget of water available for key user groups. Despite this importance, methods for quantifying the impact of water quality on water availability remain elusive. Here, we develop a new framework for incorporating the impact of water quality on water supply by modifying the Water Supply Stress Index (WaSSI). We demonstrate the usefulness of the framework by investigating the impact of high salinity waters on the availability of irrigation water for agriculture in Louisiana. The WaSSI was deconstructed into sectoral components such that the total available water supply could be reduced for a particular demand sector (agricultural irrigation in this example) based on available water quality information. The results for Louisiana highlight substantial impacts on water supply stress for farmers attributable to the landward encroachment of saline surface water and groundwater near the coast. Areas of high salinity near the coast also increased the competition for freshwater resources among the industrial, municipal, and agricultural demand sectors in the vicinities of the municipal areas of Lake Charles, Lafayette, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The framework developed here is easily adaptable for other water quality concerns and for other demand sectors, and as such can serve as a useful tool for water managers.
Midtarsal locking, the windlass mechanism, and running strike pattern: A kinematic and kinetic assessment.

Abstract Changes in running strike pattern affect ankle and knee mechanics, but little is known about the influence of strike pattern on the joints distal to the ankle. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of forefoot strike (FFS) and rearfoot strike (RFS) running patterns on foot kinematics and kinetics, from the perspectives of the midtarsal locking theory and the windlass mechanism. Per the midtarsal locking theory, we hypothesized that the ankle would be more inverted in early stance when using a FFS, resulting in decreased midtarsal joint excursions and increased dynamic stiffness. Associated with a more engaged windlass mechanism, we hypothesized that a FFS would elicit increased metatarsophalangeal joint excursions and negative work in late stance. Eighteen healthy female runners ran overground with both FFS and RFS patterns. Instrumented motion capture and a validated multi-segment foot model were used to analyze midtarsal and metatarsophalangeal joint kinematics and kinetics. During early stance in FFS the ankle was more inverted, with concurrently decreased midtarsal eversion (p
Risk of uterine rupture and placenta accreta with prior uterine surgery outside of the lower segment

Objective Women with a prior myomectomy or prior classical cesarean delivery are often delivered early by cesarean due to concern for uterine rupture. Although theoretically at increased risk for placenta accreta, this risk has not been well quantified. Our objective was to estimate and compare the risks of uterine rupture and placenta accreta in women with prior uterine surgery.
Mechanisms of Horizontal Sound Localization at Low and High Frequency in Avian Nuc. Laminaris

Since Cajal [1], neuroscientists have been impressed with the variety of neuronal form and even without experimental support, the idea that structure and function must be related has not been seriously challenged over this time. The problem is that knowledge of a cell’s anatomy, its pattern of synaptic input and its distribution of voltage-sensitive ion channels, does not enable us to infer with certainty what the cell computes, i.e., what its function is. However, if we know or can reasonably hypothesize what a cell does, we can begin to investigate the reasons for its morphology. That is, as Marr [2] realized, structure-function questions only become tractable once computation and algorithm are understood.
Bronchopleural fistula: Thirteen-year experience with 77 cases

Bronchopleural fistula, although reduced in incidence in recent years, remains a grave complication of pulmonary disease and of pulmonary resection. In a series of 77 patients treated for bronchopleural fistula over a 13 year period, 49 of whom had postresection fistulas, only 44 (57.1 percent) were cured of the fistula and 15 (19.5 percent) died. Prevention assumes great importance. Key factors in prevention are avoidance of pulmonary resection in tuberculous patients with positive sputum; overzealous dissection of the bronchus; a long bronchial stump; tumor in the bronchial stump; contamination of the pleural cavity; and too little tissue left behind to fill the pleural space. Treatment should be surgical. In none of the six patients treated conservatively was the fistula obliterated. Seventy-one patients were treated surgically, and 133 operations were needed to effect fistula obliteration in the 44 patients (62 percent) in whom this was achieved. Adequate surgical drainage has always been the sine qua non of effective treatment, and yet this alone brought about closure of the fistula in only nine patients. Early resuture of the bronchial stump succeeded in only two of five patients. Thoracoplasty combined with drainage effected closure in seven of 11 patients. The highest rate of fistula closure with the lowest mortality occurred among the 20 patients who underwent myoplasty, usually combined with a limited thoracoplasty. In this group, the fistula was obliterated in 16 patients, with one death.
Skin cancer chemoprevention: strategies to save our skin.

There are over 1 million cases of skin cancer diagnosed yearly in the United States. The majority of these are nonmelanoma (NMSCs) and are associated with chronic exposure to ultraviolet light (UV). Actinic keratosis (AK) has been identified as a precursor for SCC, but not for BCC. AKs are far more common than SCC, making them excellent targets for chemoprevention. Cancer chemoprevention can prevent or delay the occurrence of cancer in highrisk populations using dietary or chemical interventions. We have developed strategies that have rational mechanisms of action and demonstrate activity in preclinical models of skin cancer. Promising agents proceed to phase I–III trials in subjects at high risk of skin cancer. UV light induces molecular signaling pathways and results in specific genetic alterations (i.e., mutation of p53) that are likely critical to skin cancer development. UVB-induced changes serve as a basis for the development of novel agents. Targets include inhibition of polyamine or prostaglandin synthesis, specific retinoid receptors, and components of the Ras and MAP kinase signaling pathways. Agents under study include: epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a green tea catechin with antioxidant and sunscreen activity, as well as UVB signal transduction blocking activity; perillyl alcohol, a monoterpene derived from citrus peel that inhibits Ras farnesylation; difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase and polyamines; retinoids that target retinoid X receptors and AP-l activity; and nonsteroidal anti-intlammatory agents that inhibit cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin synthesis. We performed a series of Phase I–II trials in subjects with multiple AK. For example, a phase II randomized trial of topical DFMO reduced AK number, suppressed polyamines, and reduced p53 protein. Our goal is to develop agents for use in combination and/or incorporation into sunscreens to improve chemoprevention efficacy and reduce skin cancer incidence.
P1 and P2 Receptors in the Renal System

Modulation of the function of excretory organs by purine receptors is an ancient regulatory strategy adopted early in the course of vertebrate evolution. For instance, in the shark rectal gland, an excretory organ that evolved more than 400 million years ago, primordial adenosine receptors strongly influence the rate of sodium chloride transport and elimination (Forrest 1996). It is not surprising therefore that P1 and P2 receptors are important regulators of renal function in mammals. The purpose of this chapter is to summarize the available information regarding the physiology and pharmacology of renal P1 and P2 receptors and to discuss where this field will likely yield important advances in pharmacotherapeutics.
Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase gene (DPYD) polymorphism among pts with 5-FU/capecitabine (CAP)-related adverse events (AEs): Experience of 2 decades.

2576Background: DPYD gene encodes DPD, the rate-limiting enzyme responsible for catabolism of 5-FU and is responsible for > 85% of 5-FU elimination. Deficiency of DPD due to DPYD polymorphism gives...
The financial impact of the medical toxicology specialty code on a private practice

Background: We describe the financial impact following the implementation of this unique specialty taxonomy code after October 1, 2017 on an established private medical toxicology practice. Methods: Clinical financial data over a 1-year period (October 2016 through September 2017) prior to medical toxicology specialty CMS code implementation was compared to financial data (October 2017 through September, 2018) following implementation. The encounters were billed by current procedural terminology (CPT) codes through the same biller during these time periods. Initial claim denial data were tracked throughout the appeals process. Results: Overall, our initial denial rate decreased by 1.2% (with Medicare denials decreasing by 1.6% - excluding eligibility denials), resulting in a corresponding increase in a clean claim rate of 1.2%. This saved our practice $5477, between the 2 fiscal years. Conclusions: Medical toxicology specialty code implementation had an improved effect on our reimbursement denial rate to our practice.
Modulation of Potassium and Calcium Currents by FMR Famide in Aplysia Neurons: A Mechanism of Presynaptic Inhibition?

The search for cellular mechanisms of learning and memory has been greatly influenced by the analysis, initiated by Eric Kandel and his colleagues, of synaptic plasticity in simple defensive withdrawal reflexes of the marine snail Aplysia californica. Best understood in this system are events connected with presynaptic facilitation, in which the amount of neurotransmitter released from sensory onto motor neurons is increased following activation of modulatory neurons. The neuromodulatory agent released by these neurons has not been identified, but its effects can be mimicked by serotonin and the small cardioactive peptides SCPA and SCPB. On the molecular level, presynaptic facilitation appears to result mainly from cAMP-mediated closure by these agents of a class of background K channels, the ‘S’ channels, leading to delay in action potential repolarization, enhanced influx of Ca2+ into the presynaptic terminal and greater release of transmitter. In turn, presynaptic facilitation is thought to underlie behavioral sensitization and classical conditioning (reviewed by Kandel and Schwartz, 1982; Kandel et al. 1983; Byrne et al. 1986; Siegelbaum, 1987).
Symmetry Detection and Classification in Drawings of Graphs.

Symmetry is a key feature observed in nature (from flowers and leaves, to butterflies and birds) and in human-made objects (from paintings and sculptures, to manufactured objects and architectural design). Rotational, translational, and especially reflectional symmetries, are also important in drawings of graphs. Detecting and classifying symmetries can be very useful in algorithms that aim to create symmetric graph drawings and in this paper we present a machine learning approach for these tasks. Specifically, we show that deep neural networks can be used to detect reflectional symmetries with 92% accuracy. We also build a multi-class classifier to distinguish between reflectional horizontal, reflectional vertical, rotational, and translational symmetries. Finally, we make available a collection of images of graph drawings with specific symmetric features that can be used in machine learning systems for training, testing and validation purposes. Our datasets, best trained ML models, source code are available online.
Connecting sex differences, estrogen signaling, and microRNAs in cardiac fibrosis

Sex differences are evident in the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF). Progression of HF is promoted by cardiac fibrosis and no fibrosis-specific therapies are currently available. The fibrotic response is mediated by cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), and a central event is their phenotypic transition to pro-fibrotic myofibroblasts. These myofibroblasts may arise from various cellular origins including resident CFs and epicardial and endothelial cells. Both female subjects in clinical studies and female animals in experimental studies generally present less cardiac fibrosis compared with males. This difference is at least partially considered attributable to the ovarian hormone 17β-estradiol (E2). E2 signals via estrogen receptors to regulate genes are involved in the fibrotic response and myofibroblast transition. Besides protein-coding genes, E2 also regulates transcription of microRNA that modulate cardiac fibrosis. Sex dimorphism, E2, and miRNAs form multi-level regulatory networks in the pathophysiology of cardiac fibrosis, and the mechanism of these networks is not yet fully deciphered. Therefore, this review is aimed at summarizing current knowledge on sex differences, E2, and estrogen receptors in cardiac fibrosis, emphasizing on microRNAs and myofibroblast origins. KEY MESSAGES: • E2 and ERs regulate cardiac fibroblast function. • E2 and ERs may distinctly affect male and female cardiac fibrosis pathophysiology. • Sex, E2, and miRNAs form multi-level regulatory networks in cardiac fibrosis. • Sex-dimorphic and E2-regulated miRNAs affect mesenchymal transition.
Room-Temperature Phosphorescence from Encapsulated Pyrene Induced by Xenon

Phosphorescence from pyrene especially at room temperature is uncommon. This emission was recorded utilizing a supramolecular organic host and the effect due to the heavy atom. Poor intersystem crossing from S1 to T1, small radiative rate constant from T1, and large rate constant for oxygen quenching hinder the phosphorescence of aromatic molecules at room temperature in solution. In this study, these limitations are overcome by encapsulating a pyrene molecule within a water-soluble capsule (octa acid, OA) and purging with xenon. While OA suppressed oxygen quenching, xenon enabled the intersystem crossing from S1 to T1 and radiative process from T1 to S0 through the well-known heavy atom effect. The close interaction facilitated between the pyrene and the heavy atom perturber xenon in the three-component supramolecular assembly (OA, pyrene, and xenon) resulted in phosphorescence from pyrene. Computational modeling and NMR studies supported the postulate that pyrene and more than one molecule of xenon are present within a confined space of the OA capsule.
Is lactic acidosis predictive of outcomes in pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis

Abstract Objectives The objective of this study was to investigate the significance and prevalence of lactic acidosis in pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) presenting to the emergency department. Methods A retrospective cohort study of children (age ≤ 21 years) presenting to a tertiary care emergency department in DKA from December 1, 2015 to December 1, 2018. Patients needed to have DKA requiring admission to the pediatric intensive care unit and have had a lactate level collected while in the emergency department to be included. Results 92 patients resulting in 113 encounters had DKA and a lactate level collected in the emergency department. The mean lactate level was 3.5 mmol/L (±SD 2.1). 72 (63.7%) encounters had lactic acidosis (p Conclusions Lactic acidosis is a common finding in pediatric DKA patients presenting to the emergency department. Serum lactate alone should not be used as an outcome predictor in pediatric DKA.
Assessing the Inclusion of Foil Items in a Scale to Measure Recognition of Health Messages

Researchers frequently measure recognition of information in health messages by presenting participants with statements that were or were not in a message and then asking them to identify which wer...
High School Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders Perceptions of School Climate

Students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBDs), particularly those in high school, present myriad challenges for educators. Although research suggests that students with EBDs experience sc...
African American Parents’ Educational Involvement in Urban Schools: Contextualized Strategies for Student Success in Adolescence:

Research on parental educational involvement has been organized into three overarching domains—home-based involvement, school-based involvement, and academic socialization. Conventional empirical w...
Does CEO/CFO Certification of Financial Statements Constrain Earnings Management in Financial Reporting? Evidence from Canadian Companies *

We examine whether firms engage in less income-increasing earnings management following the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the resulting requirement by the SEC that financial statements be certified by firms' CEOs and CFOs. Unlike other research on this topic that examines US firms, we focus on Canadian firms that are listed on both Canadian and US exchanges. Because these firms are listed on US exchanges, their CEO/CFOs have to certify their financial statements in accordance with the SEC's rule. We find that earnings management in the certification year is significantly lower than in the pre-certification year for these dual-listed firms. We perform a similar comparison for a sample of Canadian firms that are listed only on Canadian exchanges. These firms are not subject to the SEC's certification requirement; therefore, their incentives to manage earnings upwards have not changed from the pre-certification to the certification year. Consequently, they serve as a natural control sample for our tests. Our empirical evidence is consistent with this prediction. We find no significant difference in earnings management in the certification and pre-certification years for these firms. Our findings suggest that the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the resulting SEC requirement that CEO/CFOs certify their financial statements enhanced the quality of reported earnings by reducing the extent of income-increasing earnings management.
Trajectory of Body Mass Index from Ages 2 to 7 Years and Age at Peak Height Velocity in Boys and Girls.

Objective To examine the associations between body mass index (BMI) at 2-4 years and 5-7 years and age at peak height velocity (APHV), an objective measure of pubertal timing, among boys and girls from predominantly racial minorities in the US that have been historically underrepresented in this research topic. Study design This study included 1296 mother–child dyads from the Boston Birth Cohort, a predominantly Black and low-income cohort enrolled at birth and followed prospectively during 1998-2018. The exposure was overweight or obesity, based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reference standards. The outcome was APHV, derived using a mixed effects growth curve model. Multiple regression was used to estimate the overweight or obesity–APHV association and control for confounders. Results Obesity at 2-4 years was associated with earlier APHV in boys (B in years, −0.19; 95% CI, −0.35 to −0.03) and girls (B, −0.22; 95% CI, −0.37 to −0.07). Obesity at 5-7 years was associated with earlier APHV in boys (B, −0.18; 95% CI, −0.32 to −0.03), whereas overweight and obesity at 5-7 years were both associated with earlier APHV in girls (overweight: B, −0.24; 95% CI, −0.40 to −0.08; obesity: B, −0.27; 95% CI, −0.40 to −0.13). With BMI trajectory, boys with persistent overweight or obesity and girls with overweight or obesity at 5-7 years, irrespective of overweight or obesity status at 2-4 years, had earlier APHV. Conclusions This prospective birth cohort study found that overweight or obesity during 2-7 years was associated with earlier pubertal onset in both boys and girls. The BMI trajectory analyses further suggest that reversal of overweight or obesity may halt the progression toward early puberty.
Getting Faith Out of the Gutters: Resolving the Debate Over Political Campaign Participation by Religious Organizations Through Fiscal Subsidiarity

This Article proposes a unique resolution to the debate over political campaign participation by tax-exempt organizations, specifically religious organizations. By virtue of their tax-exempt status, these organizations are banned from participating in political campaign activity. Commentators have debated the merits of this ban for years and to say that commentators have been all over the map regarding their opinions over the ban is putting it charitably. The ban’s advocates and opponents have staked out seemingly every position imaginable in arguing the merits of this ban. Some commentators have argued forcefully that the ban is needed to preserve constitutional separation of church and state. Other commentators have argued as passionately that the ban is unconstitutional and pulls at the fabric of American democracy by unduly limiting political participation by churches and religious organizations. The arguments of each side of the debate take a zero-sum gain approach to resolving the debate, and commentators seem to discount the concerns of the opposition as either irrelevant or insignificant.This Article does not attempt to resolve the debate in the literature over the ban’s legitimacy. Rather, this Article proposes a solution that the literature has apparently ignored: finding a compromise between the two extremes of the debate that addresses the primary concerns of both sides. This Article proposes that section 501(c)(3) organizations be permitted an increased amount of political campaign activity in ex-change for paying a tax referred to as a “self-directed tax.” What makes the self-directed tax unique is that the organizations themselves would be permitted to direct the government as to how to allocate the proceeds from the tax to a preset group of government spending choices. Similar rules would apply to the charitable deduction as well. The self-directed tax would allow section 501(c)(3) organizations to become more politically active. This Article’s proposal, however, still allows section 501(c)(3) organizations to preserve their unique status as partners with government in the provision of public goods — a status that justifies not requiring them to provide a portion of their profits to the government for the government to do with as it pleases.
Harvesting Faces from Social Media Photos for Biometric Analysis

The accuracy of automatic face recognition has increased significantly over the last decade. Technology developers actively try to improve their tools and algorithms; for this to occur, there is a need for high-quality datasets with a large number of images to test and develop new techniques. Online social networks provide a vast digital media resource, given the volume of traffic that goes through its infrastructure. The content within it varies but is predominately flooded by images. In this era where selfies are the norm, we examine a collection method employed to harvest face data from the subject’s images via the web. We then show how it can be processed and organized so that it is useful for biometric applications. In addition, this experiment demonstrates how restrictions put in place by social media platforms are inadequate in the protection of their user’s data.
Boundary-sampled halfspaces: a new representation for constructive solid modeling

We present a novel representation of solid models for shape design. Like Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG), the solid shape is constructed from a set of halfspaces without the need for an explicit boundary structure. Instead of using Boolean expressions as in CSG, the shape is defined by sparsely placed samples on the boundary of each halfspace. This representation, called Boundary-Sampled Halfspaces (BSH), affords greater agility and expressiveness than CSG while simplifying the reverse engineering process. We discuss theoretical properties of the representation and present practical algorithms for boundary extraction and conversion from other representations. Our algorithms are demonstrated on both 2D and 3D examples.
The Hidden Campaign: FDR's Health and the 1944 Election

Acknowledgments Preface Introduction 1. The Twentieth-Century Presidency: A High-Risk Occupation 2. The Pre-Presidential Years: "Defining Experiences" 3. The Presidential Years 1933-1943: "The Picture of Health" 4. The Presidential Years 1943-1944: "Decline and Deception" 5. The Presidential Years 1944-1945: "The Last Campaign" 6. "The Day of the Lord, April 12, 1945" 7. Lessons for the Twenty-First Century
Eosinophils: Effector Leukocytes of Allergic Inflammatory Responses

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the eosinophil effector mechanism. The presence of eosinophils in asthmatic sputum was reported in 1889, and a positive association between circulating eosinophil levels and asthma was made in 1922. Circumstantial evidence linking eosinophils and asthma began to accrue when eosinophilic infiltration of airways was found to be a regular feature of fatal asthma and of mucosal biopsies obtained from asthmatic patients. The mechanisms by which eosinophils selectively accumulate in areas of allergic inflammation involve interactions via adhesion molecules, eosinophil chemoattractants, and prolonged tissue survival by delaying apoptosis. The effector role of the eosinophil in the pathogenesis of asthma is mediated in part by the release of eosinophil-specific granular proteins. The four principal basic proteins in the secondary granules of the eosinophil are discussed in the chapter. Eosinophils possess a unique array of biological functions. As effector granulocytes, they contribute to the inflammation in asthma by releasing cytotoxic granule proteins, lipid mediators, oxygen free radicals, and cytokines. By these actions, eosinophils are involved in the initiation and perpetuation of airway inflammation in asthma.
Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome

This syndrome, which is poorly understood from both diagnostic and treatment perspectives, results in significant perinatal morbidity and mortality. Improved outcomes depend on a better understanding of the etiology of this devastating disease and on the performance of randomized, controlled trials to evaluate treatment protocols.
Frequency of Class I common or well documented null alleles in National Marrow Donor Program high resolution typing programs

Aim NMDP high resolution (HR) testing programs require typing for common or well documented (CWD) null alleles in alignment with Mack et al., Tissue Antigens. 2013: 81(4): 194–203 (CWD 2.0). The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of CWD 2.0 Class I null alleles in NMDP HR typing programs and whether these alleles occur outside of their expected haplotypes. Methods Labs performing HR typing routinely test exons 2–4, then additional regions depending on where a CWD null allele polymorphism is located. Typing methods include SSO, SBT, and NGS. HR Class I typing results from historic adult donor registry samples and CBU samples performed in 2013–2015 were queried for reports of CWD null alleles. Results Four different Class I CWD null alleles were reported a total of 35 times in 41,864 tests. B∗51:11N is expected in the A∗02∼DRB1∗04 haplotype but was observed in A∗03:01∼C∗07:02∼DRB1∗04:02. C∗04:09N was observed with its most common haplotype A∗23:01∼B∗44:03∼DRB1∗07:01 in 53% of cases and with B∗44 in 100% of cases. The common A∗02:53N was not reported; it occurs in up to 0.10% of Chinese populations. The remainder of the CWD nulls were not observed. G group frequency is the null allele frequency within the two digit G group typing. Conclusion Although the frequency of Class I CWD null alleles in the queried HLA results is low, they may warrant continued routine typing. Failure to identify a null allele results in a hidden mismatch between donor and patient. However, lab costs increase due to the additional typing required to detect polymorphisms located outside of exons 2–3. As exon 7 is not routinely tested, typing for C∗04:09N only in the presence of B∗44 may be a future consideration for NMDP HR contracts and policies. Download : Download full-size image
A covariance matrix method for calculating accurate bit error rates in a DWDM chirped RZ system

We present a covariance matrix method to compute accurate error rates in a 10Gb/s DWDM chirped RZ transmission systems with channels spaced 50GHz apart at the computational cost of only 280 Monte Carlo noise realizations.
Inhibition of gallstone formation by sphincterotomy in the prairie dog: Reversal by atropine

Abstract Sphincterotomy has previously been shown to decrease gallbladder volume and gallbladder bile stasis while inhibiting gallstone formation in the prairie dog. We tested the possibility that atropine administration might reverse the effects of sphincterotomy on gallbladder mechanical function and gallbladder bile stasis and thereby reverse the inhibition of gallstone formation seen after sphincterotomy. Sixteen prairie dogs underwent sphincterotomy and were placed on a high cholesterol diet known to consistently induce gallstone formation. After 6 wk, in addition to the lithogenic diet, 8 animals were administered atropine. A control group of 8 animals was continued on the lithogenic diet. At death, animals that had undergone sphincterotomy and received atropine had a larger mean gallbladder volume (2.7 ± 0.4 ml) than sphincterotomized control animals (0.66 ± 0.2 ml, p 3 H]cholic acid in the gallbladder (given 1 day before death) to the fraction of [ 14 C]cholic acid in the gallbladder (given 4 days earlier) was lower for animals that underwent sphincterotomy and received atropine (0.63 ± 0.04) than for sphincterotomized control animals (1.0 ± 0.15, p
Lens distortion calibration using point correspondences

This paper describes a new method for lens distortion calibration using only point correspondences in multiple views, without the need to know either the 3D location of the points or the camera locations. The standard lens distortion model is a model of the deviations of a real camera from the ideal pinhole or projective camera model. Given multiple views of a set of corresponding points taken by ideal pinhole cameras there exist epipolar and trilinear constraints among pairs and triplets of these views. In practice, due to noise in the feature detection and due to lens distortion these constraints do not hold exactly and we get some error. The calibration is a search for the lens distortion parameters that minimize this error. Using simulation and experimental results with real images we explore the properties of this method. We describe the use of this method with the standard lens distortion model, radial and decentering, but it could also be used with any other parametric distortion models. Finally we demonstrate that lens distortion calibration improves the accuracy of 3D reconstruction.
Drs. Schmickel and Chu Reply

Although the patient described by Robbins et al.1 has both xeroderma pigmentosum and Cockayne syndrome, the report cited by Dupuy and Lafforet would not permit us to reach this conclusion. The coexistence of xeroderma pigmentosum and Cockayne syndrome in a single patient is an intriguing situation. Although the two diseases both show an increased cellular sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) light, the molecular defect(s) in these diseases remain unknown. Speculation about this coincidence is, therefore, conjectural.
Research Spotlight: Political bias in water quality monitoring

[1] When legislators put out a call for scientific information, they expect the response to be based on the most stringent data possible. But when the information comes from a large monitoring network—like water quality measurements across Europe—the results could be based on politics as much as on science. In the first study of its kind, Beck et al. used statistical methods to track the development of Europe's water-monitoring system from 1965 to 2004 in an attempt to tease out how the placement of monitoring stations might be influenced by economic and political pressures rather than by environmental needs. Some trends were expected: Monitoring increased with income, population density, and democracy and showed a general increase over time. Monitoring was also higher when a river crossed international boundaries than when it flowed through one nation alone. Another trend, however, ran against the researchers' assumptions: Being a member of the European Union (EU) was related to lower monitoring densities. The authors suspected that countries that were not early members of the EU may have tried to curry favor with their neighbors by increasing their monitoring programs, while other governments felt no such pressure. (Water Resources Research, doi:10.1029/2009WR009065, 2010)
The production of nitric oxide by marine ammonia-oxidizing archaea and inhibition of archaeal ammonia oxidation by a nitric oxide scavenger

Summary Nitrification is a critical process for the balance of reduced and oxidized nitrogen pools in nature, linking mineralization to the nitrogen loss processes of denitrification and anammox. Recent studies indicate a significant contribution of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) to nitrification. However, quantification of the relative contributions of AOA and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) to in situ ammonia oxidation remains challenging. We show here the production of nitric oxide (NO) by Nitrosopumilus maritimus SCM1. Activity of SCM1 was always associated with the release of NO with quasi-steady state concentrations between 0.05 and 0.08 μM. NO production and metabolic activity were inhibited by the nitrogen free radical scavenger 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5,-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (PTIO). Comparison of marine and terrestrial AOB strains with SCM1 and the recently isolated marine AOA strain HCA1 demonstrated a differential sensitivity of AOB and AOA to PTIO and allylthiourea (ATU). Similar to the investigated AOA strains, bulk water column nitrification at coastal and open ocean sites with sub-micromolar ammonia/ammonium concentrations was inhibited by PTIO and insensitive to ATU. These experiments support predictions from kinetic, molecular and biogeochemical studies, indicating that marine nitrification at low ammonia/ammonium concentrations is largely driven by archaea and suggest an important role of NO in the archaeal metabolism.
The Power of Accounting : What the Numbers Mean and How to Use Them

The Power of Accounting: What the Numbers Mean and How to Use Them provides a highly readable text for non-financial managers. It explores accounting’s uses and limitations in the management process. The text is intended for users of accounting information as opposed to preparers. It focuses on aiding the reader in understanding what accounting numbers mean, what they do not mean, when and how they can be used for decision making and planning and when they cannot. The book discusses the importance of accounting information in the economy and the fact that accounting numbers are often the result of estimates and arbitrary allocations. It also includes a cautionary word about the imprecise use of terminology often found in accounting and financial literature.
α-Bungarotoxin binding by cell membranes: Blockage of sperm cell motility

Abstract Arbacia sperm cells in sea water suspension respond dramatically to the addition of bungarotoxin. Concentrations as low as 5 pM cause about half the cells to cease swimming, while total inhibition of all motile activity occurs abruptly at 0.5 μM. Nicotine acts cholinomimetically to increase sperm swimming speed at concentrations between 10 pM and 100 nM, while higher concentrations decreases motility. It is concluded that acetylcholine receptors, possibly nicotinic, located at the cell surface, may mediate the regulation of sperm motility.