cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Classification of software patches: a text mining approach

Installation of maintenance patches in operational software systems is a source of significant expenditure and resource consumption. Managers often have to find a balance between publicly announced vulnerabilities and/or possible destabilization of existing applications, while making decisions regarding patch roll out to all systems. We propose a classification scheme for maintenance patches and examine the effects of patch category on the internal characteristics of a software system. Text mining the patch releases of 77 successive versions of the Linux operating system, we extend previous categorization schemes to maintenance patches. This granularity level offers a view of the aggregate nature of the tasks performed in each version. An unsupervised learning technique, cluster analysis associated with Text mining, reveals that there are three identifiable categories in Linux patch files. Based on the maintenance keywords in each category, we label them as: corrective, perfective and adaptive patches. Further analysis of the effects of patch category on the structural complexity and the time to next release indicates that perfective patches are associated with a reduction in the complexity and frequency of patch release. Categorization at the patch level is useful for managers, since changes made to operational software systems are through patches. Determining the nature of a patch can assist managers in planning version roll out and testing criterion. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PURIFICATION AND PRELIMINARY CHARACTERIZATION OF PERMETHRINASE FROM A PYRETHROID-TRANSFORMING STRAIN OF BACILLUS CEREUS

Bacillus cereus SM3 was isolated on a mineral salts medium with Tween 80 as the primary carbon source. It was able to hydrolyze second- and third-generation pyrethroids, thereby generating noninsecticidal products. The enzyme responsible for this hydrolytic reaction was named permethrinase for this study. This is the first instance in which pyrethroid detoxification has been achieved with a cell-free microbial enzyme system. Permethrinase was purified by ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. The molecular mass of native permethrinase was 61 +/- 3 kDa, as estimated by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. This novel microbial esterase seems to be a carboxylesterase. Permethrinase activity had an optimum pH of 7.5 and a temperature optimum of 37 degrees C. No cofactors or coenzymes were required for permethrinase activity. The enzyme may be a serine esterase, as it seems to be sensitive to the organophosphorus compound tetraethylpyrophosphate at concentrations in the micromolar range. Addition of dithiothreitol afforded permethrinase protection against the inhibitory effects of the sulfydryl agents p-chloromercuribenzoate and N-ethylmaleimide. The enzyme was stable over a range of temperatures. Cell extracts of strain SM3 also contained another esterase, which was active towards beta-naphthylacetate, but this enzyme was distinct from permethrinase.
Significance of Transient Exergy Terms in a New Tray Design Solar Desalination Device

An investigation of the transient exergy property term, exergy storage, for a new desalination tray design was performed. It was illustrated that exergy destruction rates provide a means of comparing alternative energy solutions and a measure of their sustainability. To satisfy these objectives one needs accurate calculation of exergy destruction rates. It was confirmed that neglecting the exergy storage term is not a valid approximation for the hourly and daily averaged values of the second law analysis. For a solar desalination system neglecting the exergy storage terms introduced a maximum difference in the exergy destruction rate of 7.4% and a difference of 7.3% in the daily average. In the solar desalination process with energy recovery the second law performance is greater than that for the reverse osmosis (RO) process, the chief competitor, when the exergy storage terms are correctly included in the analysis. The results demonstrate that for variable energy sources such as renewable energy systems, the second law analysis provides a measure of the sustainability of competing system and that the exergy storage terms should be included in the analysis.
Tissue-Specific Glycosylation at the Glycopeptide Level

This manuscript describes the enrichment and mass spectrometric analysis of intact glycopeptides from mouse liver, which yielded site-specific N- and O-glycosylation data for ∼130 proteins. Incorporation of different sialic acid variants in both N- and O-linked glycans was observed, and the importance of using both collisional activation and electron transfer dissociation for glycopeptide analysis was illustrated. The N-glycan structures of predicted lysosomal, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), secreted and transmembrane proteins were compared. The data suggest that protein N-glycosylation differs depending on cellular location. The glycosylation patterns of several mouse liver and mouse brain glycopeptides were compared. Tissue-specific differences in glycosylation were observed between sites within the same protein: Some sites displayed a similar spectrum of glycan structures in both tissues, whereas for others no overlap was observed. We present comparative brain/liver glycosylation data on 50 N-glycosylation sites from 34 proteins and 13 O-glycosylation sites from seven proteins.
Curriculum revision and course development in digital signal transmission

In response to the high demand for specialists in the area of telecommunication and computer related fields in New England, the Department of Electronic Engineering at Johnson & Wales has gone through tremendous revisions in its program. Many courses were completely removed from the existing program and many new and more demanding courses were appended to replace the pervious courses. The new Electronic Engineering program is divided into two two-year curriculums. The second two-years is divided into three concentrations as follow: Digital System Engineering; Network Engineering; and System Engineering. The most difficult part of the conversion from the old to the new curriculum was the course developments, specifically those courses that are of great demand in today's high-tech industry. One of these courses is Digital Signal Transmission (DST). The development of such a course became even more difficult due to the almost nonexistence of a very similar course in the engineering programs around the nation whose courses we reviewed. Selecting a textbook for such a course was another problematic issue. A textbook that covered all the designated subject areas of our Digital Signal Transmission course proved to be difficult. This paper intends to show the process of our curriculum revision as well as the course development for Digital Signal Transmission.
Vitamin E and Breast Cancer

Vitamin E is a term that describes a group of compounds with similar yet unique chemical structures and biological activities. One interesting property possessed by certain vitamin E compounds-namely, delta-tocotrienol, RRR-alpha-tocopheryl succinate [vitamin E succinate (VES), a hydrolyzable ester-linked succinic acid analogue of RRR-alpha-tocopherol], and a novel vitamin E analogue referred to as alpha-TEA (alpha-tocopherol ether linked acetic acid analogue, which is a stable nonhydrolyzable analogue of RRR-alpha-tocopherol)-is their ability to induce cancer cells but not normal cells to undergo a form of cell death called apoptosis. In contrast, the parent compound, RRR-alpha-tocopherol, also referred to as natural or authentic vitamin E and known for its antioxidant properties, does not induce cancer-cell apoptosis. Efforts to understand how select vitamin E forms can induce cancer cells to undergo apoptosis have identified several nonantioxidant biological functions, including restoration of pro-death transforming growth factor-beta and Fas signaling pathways. Recent studies with alpha-TEA show it to be a potent inducer of apoptosis in a wide variety of epithelial cancer cell types, including breast, prostate, lung, colon, ovarian, cervical, and endometrial in cell culture, and to be effective in significantly reducing tumor burden and metastasis in a syngeneic mouse mammary tumor model, as well as xenografts of human breast cancer cells. Studies also show that alpha-TEA, in combination with the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor celecoxib and the chemotherapeutic drug 9-nitro-camptothecin decreases breast cancer animal model tumor burden and inhibits metastasis significantly better than do single-agent treatments.
Trauma induced myocardial infarction

Chest Trauma in athletes is a common health problem. However, myocardial infarction secondary to coronary dissection in the setting of blunt chest trauma is extremely rare. We report a case of acute inferior wall myocardial infarction following blunt chest trauma. A 32-year-old male with no relevant medical problems was transferred to our medical center for retrosternal chest pain after being elbowed in the chest during a soccer game. Few seconds later, he started experiencing sharp retrosternal chest pain that was severe to that point where he called the emergency medical service. Upon arrival to the trauma department patient was still complaining of chest pain. ECG demonstrated ST segment elevation in the inferior leads with reciprocal changes in the lateral leads all consistent with active ischemia. After rolling out aortic dissection, patient was loaded with ASA, ticagerlor, heparin and was emergently taken to the cardiac catheterization lab. Coronary angiography demonstrated 100% thrombotic occlusion in the distal right coronary artery with TIMI 0 flow distally. After thrombus aspiration, a focal dissection was noted on the angiogram that was successfully stented. Two days after admission patient was discharged home. Echocardiography prior to discharge showed inferior wall akinesis, normal right ventricular systolic function and normal overall ejection fraction.
Antiferromagnetism in the Vanadium, Manganese and Iron Phosphate Glass Systems

Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements have been made on a series of concentrated vanadium, manganese and iron phosphate glasses. The high temperature magnetic susceptibility of all glasses studied obeys a Curie-Weiss law with an antiferromagnetic Curie temperature. The magnetic properties of these glasses are a function of composition and approach the properties of related crystalline compounds at the limit of glass formation. The low temperature susceptibility measurements of the glasses show anomalous behavior and are discussed in terms of recent theoretical models for amorphous antiferromagnets.
Associations between chlorophyll a and various microcystin health advisory concentrations

Cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms (cHABs) are associated with a wide range of adverse health effects that stem mostly from the presence of cyanotoxins. To help protect against these impacts, several health advisory levels have been set for some toxins. In particular, one of the more common toxins, microcystin, has several advisory levels set for drinking water and recreational use. However, compared to other water quality measures, field measurements of microcystin are not commonly available due to cost and advanced understanding required to interpret results. Addressing these issues will take time and resources. Thus, there is utility in finding indicators of microcystin that are already widely available, can be estimated quickly and in situ, and used as a first defense against high levels of microcystin. Chlorophyll a is commonly measured, can be estimated in situ, and has been shown to be positively associated with microcystin. In this paper, we use this association to provide estimates of chlorophyll a concentrations that are indicative of a higher probability of exceeding select health advisory concentrations for microcystin. Using the 2007 National Lakes Assessment and a conditional probability approach, we identify chlorophyll a concentrations that are more likely than not to be associated with an exceedance of a microcystin health advisory level. We look at the recent US EPA health advisories for drinking water as well as the World Health Organization levels for drinking water and recreational use and identify a range of chlorophyll a thresholds. A 50% chance of exceeding one of the specific advisory microcystin concentrations of 0.3, 1, 1.6, and 2 μg/L is associated with chlorophyll a concentration thresholds of 23, 68, 84, and 104 μg/L, respectively. When managing for these various microcystin levels, exceeding these reported chlorophyll a concentrations should be a trigger for further testing and possible management action.
Rethinking for Second Language Speaking

Slobin’s (1996) thinking for speaking hypothesis has been recently adopted by second language researchers as a valuable lens from which to examine the complexities of possible conceptual restructuring during interlanguage development. This paper reviews a sample of studies analyzing the linguistic and conceptual patterns observed in second language learners while using their respective target languages. Discussions focus on issues central to second language acquisition and the understanding of interlanguage from a meaning perspective.
Prediction Using Propagation: From Flu Trends to Cybersecurity

This article discusses two applications of propagation-based concepts for predictive analytics: marrying epidemiological models with statistical topic models to tease out user phases for better flu-trends prediction, and using propagation-based models to generatively model estimates of malware attacks.
MR enterography: how to deliver added value

MR enterography (MRE) is increasingly vital to the diagnosis and follow-up of children with Crohn disease. This diagnostic test, which can provide valuable information regarding the presence of intestinal inflammation, intestinal and intra-abdominal complications, and extra-intestinal disease-related manifestations, has the potential to directly impact both medical and surgical decision-making. Consequently, it is imperative that the interpretation and reporting of these examinations provide as much clinical information as possible. This article reviews specific ways radiologists can provide added value when interpreting MRE examinations in the setting of pediatric Crohn disease by (1) establishing the true extent of disease involvement, (2) subjectively and objectively assessing response to medical treatment and (3) accurately characterizing disease-related complications.
Spatial–temporal variability in solar radiation during spring snowmelt

Much of the spring landscape of arctic regions is dominated by a patchy snow cover with implications for both spring melt runoff and atmospheric fluxes. In addition to a variable end-of-winter snowpack, spatial differences in snowmelt energy terms play an important role in the development of this patchy snow cover. This paper focuses specifically on the influence of solar radiation on snowmelt by using a model to simulate the small-scale variability of solar radiation incident on the ground surface due to topographic influences over a small arctic catchment. The model only requires a digital elevation model (DEM) and measured global radiation. Despite the relatively low relief (average slope 3°) of the study area, the results showed solar radiation differences of up to 10% of the area-wide mean over the melt period. This would result in differences in snowmelt amounts of up to 50 mm, a value similar in magnitude to the overall mean end-of-winter snow water equivalent in the study region. An analysis of the effects of changing model scale showed that the simulated variability decreased substantially for larger grid sizes. The results show that the small-scale variability of solar radiation contributes greatly to the mosaic patterns in melting snow covers of arctic regions, affects the timing and amount of meltwater release and influences the surface energy balance of these areas considerably.
Configuration Determination of a Reusable First Stage Booster Utilizing Monte Carlo Based Inverse Design

The U.S. Air Force is pursuing a hybrid Reusable Booster System consisting of a reusable first stage and an expendable upper stage. Similar studies have shown that reusable first stages have less than desirable trim characteristics throughout their large flight regimes. In order to address this problem, an integrated tool was developed to determine trim characteristics throughout the flight regime utilizing Euler CFD and mass properties information. The components of this integrated environment are used in a Monte Carlo simulation to generate candidate designs with benign trim characteristics. An example candidate is then developed to meet necessary trim characteristics.
Le Bateau Ivre, or the Limits of Symbolism

Perhaps no other French poem of recent times has been so much discussed, commented on, and analyzed as Arthur Rimbaud's Le Bateau Ivre. Hence it may seem presumptuous on my part to propose to the reader another lengthy discussion of a work about which “everything has been said.” If I do so, it is because of a conviction that much remains still to be said. For whereas there have been proposals for the total reading of the poem which seem to be generally acceptable, these usually fail to do more than suggest the broad general meaning; they do not provide insights into specific passages or solutions to the many difficulties of detail. Moreover, they tend to concentrate on the problem of meaning to the exclusion of the problem of structure, and it is in the problem of structure that I am especially interested. I should wish to discover, in the following pages, not only a more nearly complete reading of Le Bateau Ivre but also the answer (or part of the answer) to a theoretical question that constantly arises in the analysis of symbolist poetry. The problem simply stated is this: How much of a symbolist poem is actually involved in the central symbol about which the poem is built, and what purpose is served by such parts of the poem as are not involved in that symbol? Hence my subtitle, “The Limits of Symbolism,” which does not mean to impose limits upon the poet or to suggest that any such exist in the nature of things, but merely to inquire into the operation of these limits in the case of Le Bateau Ivre.
Morphological and crystalline evolution of nanostructured MnO2 and its application in lithium--air batteries.

Single-crystal α-MnO2 nanotubes have been successfully synthesized by microwave-assisted hydrothermal of potassium permanganate in the presence of hydrochloric acid. The growth mechanism including the morphological and crystalline evolution has been carefully studied with time-dependent X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and controlled synthesis. The as-synthesized MnO2 nanostructures are incorporated in air cathodes of lithium–air batteries as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction and evolution reactions. The characterization reveals that the electrodes made of single-crystalline α-MnO2 nanotubes exhibit much better stability than those made of α-MnO2 nanowires and δ-MnO2 nanosheet-based microflowers in both charge and discharge processes.
Differential Social Change in a Mexican Town

final choice, but he would have contributed to the possibility of its being made intelligently. Moreover, he himself might, as citizen, elect to support one of the alternatives. This is the position that Jose Medina Echavarria approaches, but does not quite adopt. I have found the reading of his three books a st m lating experience. He has forced me to r view many assumptions and conclusions which needed to be revised. His critique of North American sociology is particularly challenging (C chap. 6). I hope that many of my colleagues may benefit from studying the works of this brilliant Spaniard.
Characterization of multiphoton photoacoustic spectroscopy for subsurface brain tissue diagnosis and imaging

The development and demonstration of a multiphoton photoacoustic imaging technique capable of providing high spatial resolution chemical images of subsurface tissue components as deep as 1.4 cm below the tissue surface is described. By combining multiphoton excitation in the diagnostic window (650 to 1100 nm), with ultrasonic detection of nonradiative relaxation events, it is possible to rapidly reconstruct three-dimensional, chemical specific, images of samples underneath overlying structures as well as chemical species of the same material. Demonstration of this technique for subsurface tissue differentiation is shown, with the ability to distinguish between grade III astrocytoma tissue and adjacent healthy tissue in blind studies. By employing photoacoustic signal detection, the high nonradiative relaxation rates of most biological tissue components (>90% >90% ) and the minimal signal attenuation of the resulting ultrasound compensate for excitation efficiency losses associated with two-photon absorption. Furthermore, the two-photon absorption process results in a highly localized excitation volume (ca., 60 μm 60 μm ). Characterization of the probing depth, spatial resolution, and ability to image through overlying structures is also demonstrated in this paper using tissue phantoms with well-characterized optical scattering properties, mimicking those of tissues.
Lean mass influences overnight changes in hydration, blood pressure and strength in community-dwelling older women

AbstractWe evaluated the hypothesis that greater lean mass promotes better overnight hydration, improved postural blood pressure and greater strength. Thirty women, aged 71 ± 0.9 years (mean ± SE), completed one measurement in a euhydrated state and another the following morning after an overnight fast. Measurements included hydration, lean mass, orthostatic blood pressure and strength. Participants were grouped by fat-free mass index (FFMI), with cut-points defined as low (< 15.0 kg/m2) and normal (≥ 15.0 kg/m2). Women with normal FFMI had significantly greater hydration (p < 0.01), lean mass (p < 0.001) and upper body strength (p < 0.05), while those with low FFMI had more unstable blood pressure. On day 1, women with low FFMI experienced significant postural systolic blood pressure changes from sitting to standing (–11.3 ± 4.0 mmHg, p < 0.05). On day 2, they experienced significant systolic changes from lying to sitting (–8.0 ± 2.2 mmHg, p < 0.01) and sitting to standing (–14.9 ± 5.5 mmHg, p < 0.05), a...
Morphological Knowledge and Students Who Are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing: A Review of the Literature

Students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH) struggle to attain grade-equivalent literacy skills and require education interventions to improve. Recent literature reviews have revealed the need f...
A taxonomic revision of Mexican and Central American Symplocos (Symplocaceae)

A taxonomic revision of the Mexican and Central American members of Symplocos is presented. Thirty two species are recognized for the region. Two of the species belong to Symplocos sect. Hopea , and 30 are members of S . sect. Symplocos series Symplocos . The species of S. ser. Symplocos are easily distinguished from those of S. sect. Hopea by their connate petals that are adnate to the androecium distinctly beyond the base (versus connate and adnate at the base only), and filaments that are tangentially flattened in cross section and apically constricted (versus terete and not apically constricted). Of the 32 recognized species, ten are endemic to Mexico, 13 are endemic to Central America, two are shared between Central America and South America, seven are shared between Mexico and Central America, and one is shared among Mexico, Central America, and Cuba. One new species, S. nigridentata, is described from Mexico, and lectotypifications or neotypifications are provided for S. coccinea, S. coccinea var. hirta, S. costaricana, S. hartwegii, S. hartwegii var. opaca, S. limoncillo, S. prionophylla, S. pycnantha, S. schiedeana, S. serrulata, S. speciosa, and S. tomentosa. The revision includes keys, full synonymy, descriptions, illustrations for those species not already illustrated elsewhere, distribution maps and assignment of conservation status for all species, and a complete list of exsiccatae.
Effect of room temperature and dietary amino acid concentration on performance of lactating sows

Mixed-parity sows (n = 267) from five research stations were used to investigate whether a reduction of excess dietary amino acids would improve feed intake and performance of lactating sows experiencing heat stress. Experimental treatments included effects of room temperature (warm or hot) and diet (adequate protein [AP] or low protein [LP]). The corn-soybean meal AP diet was formulated to contain 16.5% CP, .8% lysine, and .67% digestible lysine. The LP diet was formulated to contain 13.7% CP, .76% lysine, and .66% digestible lysine using corn, soybean meal, and synthetic lysine. Feed intake during gestation was standardized at 1.8 kg x sow(-1) x d(-1). At parturition, litter size was adjusted to no fewer than nine pigs. Mean high temperature in the warm and hot rooms was 20.4 and 29.2 degrees C and mean low temperature was 17.7 and 27.1 degrees C, respectively. The hot environment reduced (P < .01) feed intake of sows (4.19 vs 6.38 kg/d) during lactation, weaning weight of sows (176.2 vs 193.6 kg), percentage of sows displaying estrus (79.2 vs 93.4%) by d 15 postweaning, and litter growth rate (1.74 vs 2.11 kg/d) and increased (P < .01) respiration rate of sows on d 10 postpartum (71.9 vs 36.5 breaths/min) compared with the warm environment. Litter size and backfat loss of sows were not affected by treatments. No significant diet x room temperature interactions were observed for voluntary feed intake, body weight loss, backfat loss, or respiration rate of sows. Litter growth rate was depressed by feeding the LP diet in the warm room but was improved by feeding the LP diet in the hot room (warm-AP, 2.17; warm-LP, 2.05; hot-AP, 1.71; hot-LP, 1.77 kg/d; P < .05). Reduction of dietary crude protein combined with supplementation of crystalline lysine to reduce concentrations of excess dietary amino acids did not significantly reduce heat stress of sows, but it did support slight improvements in weight gain of litters nursing heat-stressed sows.
Measuring activity limitation outcomes in youth with spinal cord injury.

A cross-sectional study. The Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury Activity Measure (PEDI-SCI AM), which includes calibrated item banks (child and parent versions) for general mobility, daily routines, wheeled mobility and ambulation, can be administered using computerized adaptive tests (CATs) or short forms (SFs). The study objectives are as follows: (1) to examine the psychometric properties of the PEDI-SCI AM item banks and 10-item CATs; and (2) to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of PEDI-SCI AM SFs. US Shriners Hospitals for Children (California, Illinois and Pennsylvania). Calibration data from a convenience sample of 381 children and adolescents with SCI and 322 parents or caregivers were used to examine PEDI-SCI AM item banks, 10-item CATs and SF scores. We calculated group reliability, internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) and interclass coefficients (ICCs) to assess agreement between 10-item CATs, SFs and item banks. The percent of the sample with highest (ceiling) and lowest (floor) scores was also determined. An expert panel selected items for 14 SFs. PEDI-SCI item banks, 10-item CATs and SFs demonstrate acceptable group reliability (0.73–0.96) and internal consistency (0.77–0.98). ICC values show strong agreement with item banks for 10-item CATs (0.72-0.99) and SFs. Floor effects are minimal (<15%). Ceiling effects are minimal for children with tetraplegia but high in children with paraplegia for general mobility (13.41–26.05%) and daily activities (12.99–32.71%). The PEDI-SCI AM exhibited strong psychometric properties for children with tetraplegia. Replenishment of the general mobility and daily routine item banks is needed to reduce ceiling effects noted for youth with paraplegia.
Physics of Hypofractionated Whole Breast Irradiation

Whole breast irradiation (WBI) is routinely used in the management of early-stage breast cancer, when coordinated with lumpectomy along with a possible chemotherapy regimen. The conventional WBI fractionation scheme is 2 Gy per fraction. Several WBI fractionation schemes, including hypofractionated WBI (HWBI), have been investigated. HWBI offers advantages to the patient such as reduced out-of-pocket costs as well as to radiation oncology departments such as the ability to schedule and treat more patients per year on a given linear accelerator. The higher dose per fraction for HWBI compared with conventional WBI has some consequences with regard to how a conventional megavoltage linear accelerator will be applied for treatment. Generally, HWBI requires better control of the patient’s motion during delivery. The reduced number of fractions in HWBI requires more precise and accurate patient positioning. Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) may be useful. Other physics-related issues specific to HWBI include the need of 3D imaging-based conformal treatment planning, the changes of normal tissue dose-volume constraints for treatment planning, and the radiobiology consideration in the fractionation schemes. The rationale and considerations of these issues are presented in this chapter.
Sorting Food from Mud: Vagal Gustatory System of Goldfish ( Carassius auratus )

Adult goldfish (Carassius auratus) and many related carps feed by taking in mouthfuls of substrate and, utilizing specialized oropharyngeal structures, manipulate the substrate to retain food particles while rejecting the inedible material [1]. In these fishes, the posterior part of the oropharynx includes a large, muscular palatal organ and a pharyngeal chewing organ. The palatal organ is studded densely with taste buds and plays a crucial role in sorting food from substrate particles.
The organizational effects of pubertal testosterone on sexual proficiency in adult male Syrian hamsters.

Social proficiency requires making appropriate behavioral adaptations as a result of social experience. For example, male rodents become sexually proficient with experience as demonstrated by a reduction in ectopic (misdirected) mounts, mount-to-intromission ratio, and latency to ejaculation. We previously found that over a series of timed tests with a receptive female, male hamsters deprived of testosterone specifically during puberty (NoT@P) have overall lower levels of sexual behavior and continue to display high levels of ectopic mounts, compared with males that experienced endogenous testosterone during puberty (T@P). These results suggested that pubertal testosterone programs sexual proficiency in adulthood, but because NoT@P males engaged in less sexual behavior than T@P males in these tests, the amount of sexual experience may have been insufficient to improve sexual proficiency. To more rigorously test the hypothesis that pubertal testosterone is necessary for social proficiency in adulthood, the present study compared the behavior of NoT@P and T@P males in a series of 4 trials with a 48-h interval between each trial. Sexual experience was equated by limiting each trial to 5 intromissions. Sexually-naive males were either gonadectomized prepubertally (NoT@P) or in adulthood (T@P) and received subcutaneous testosterone capsules four weeks later. Two weeks after testosterone replacement, these groups and a group of adult gonad-intact controls began sexual behavior testing. We found that NoT@P males had more ectopic mounts/min across all four tests compared to gonad-intact and T@P males. Moreover, both gonad-intact and T@P males, but not NoT@P males, showed an increase in the number of mounts and intromissions/min between trials 1 and 3. Unexpectedly, both gonad-intact and T@P, but not NoT@P, males showed a decrease in sexual behaviors during trial 4. Thus, T@P males display multiple behavioral adaptations to sexual experience that are not observed in NoT@P males: a reduction in ectopic mounts after repeated encounters with a receptive female and an inverted U-shape pattern in mounts and intromissions when these encounters do not lead to ejaculations. These results support the hypothesis that pubertal testosterone organizes neural circuits underlying behavioral flexibility and adaptability to promote sexual proficiency in adulthood.
How service learning can be offered as capstone

The capstone design course is a senior level course in large number of civil engineering and construction programs. This course bridges the gap between education and industry by emphasizing project-based learning, asking students to accomplish open-ended project planning and system design. This study aims to investigate the potential of incorporating service learning into capstone courses in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, and Construction Management curricula. To accomplish this objective, a questionnaire is designed and will be distributed among alumni of Purdue University as well as Durham School of Architecture Engineering and Construction. The questionnaire is asking about the main learning objectives of the current capstone courses, objectives that can be better covered by a service learning project, and the most practical, efficient, and systematic way to incorporate service learning into capstone courses. The results of this study can be used to successfully incorporate service learning as a more advanced authentic performance task into the capstone senior design course and increase the student's experience with real-world issues, and enhance required skills such as project management, project planning, and cost analysis and estimation.
Crowdsourcing via tensor augmentation and completion

Nowadays, the rapid proliferation of data makes it possible to build complex models for many real applications. Such models, however, usually require large amount of labeled data, and the labeling process can be both expensive and tedious for domain experts. To address this problem, researchers have resorted to crowdsourcing to collect labels from non-experts with much less cost. The key challenge here is how to infer the true labels from the large number of noisy labels provided by non-experts. Different from most existing work on crowdsourcing, which ignore the structure information in the labeling data provided by non-experts, in this paper, we propose a novel structured approach based on tensor augmentation and completion. It uses tensor representation for the labeled data, augments it with a ground truth layer, and explores two methods to estimate the ground truth layer via low rank tensor completion. Experimental results on 6 real data sets demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed approach over state-of-the-art techniques.
Health Literacy Assessment: Feasibility in a Breast Surgical Oncology Clinic

Health literacy is recognized as an integral component of high-quality health care. However, health literacy has been understudied in the context of cancer care delivery and surgical decision making. The goal of this article is to outline a process for implementation of a health literacy screening assessment within the routine practices of an academic breast surgical oncology clinic. The self-reported health literacy assessment is feasible, particularly with integration of the health literacy screen in the electronic health record. The authors' estimated clinic prevalence of low health literacy was 22%, which has numerous implications for communication and shared decision-making processes. .
Falsely Decreased Carbon Dioxide in Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia.

To the Editor: Lipemia is a complex interferant in clinical laboratory testing (1). Turbidity caused by increased VLDL and chylomicrons scatters light in spectrophotometric-based methods (2, 3). To address this issue, analyzer and reagent manufacturers perform interference studies for lipemia and other interferants before any assay is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for patient testing. Intralipid® (a sterile-synthetic, nonpyrogenic fat emulsion) and, recently, triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs)1 are 2 commercially available substances used to test for lipemia interference. Bornhorst et al. (1) previously emphasized the disadvantages of artificial Intralipid vs native lipemic samples in manufacturer interference studies. TRLs (VLDL and chylomicrons), even if …
The role of 1a,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in IgE-mediated mast cell activation (HYP4P.313)

As the prevalence of allergic diseases such as allergic asthma and rhinitis continues to increase, there is growing interest in novel approaches to blunt the inflammatory processes. IgE-mediated mast cell activation results in the release of histamine and other inflammatory mediators. Vitamin D has been linked to allergic disease, with vitamin D deficiency being linked to increased risk for development and severity of allergic disease. We assessed the effects of the Vitamin D metabolite 1a,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D3) on IgE-mediated mast cell activation in vitro . We find that 1,25D3 suppresses IgE-mediated inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production. Surprisingly, these effects do not require expression of the canonical receptor for 1,25D3 (VDR), as wild type and VDR KO mast cells are similarly suppressed by 1,25D3. Additionally, these effects appear to be somewhat stimulus-specific, as IL-33-mediated mast cell activation s not inhibited by 1,25D3. We postulate that the chaperone protein Pdia3, an alternative plasma membrane-associated receptor for 1,25D3, may be responsible for the VDR-independent, anti-inflammatory effects on IgE-mediated mast cell activation. Our data depict novel evidence that 1,25D3 can attenuate the pro-inflammatory mast cell response, and emphasize the possible utility of vitamin D supplementation for treatment of allergic and inflammatory diseases.
The evolution of pathogen virulence: Effects of transitions between host types.

Abstract Much of evolutionary epidemiology theory is derived from a perspective in which all hosts, and all parasites, are epidemiologically equivalent. This stands in contrast to the well-documented existence of the numerous processes generating heterogeneity among hosts and parasites that can profoundly influence evolutionary/epidemiological dynamics. Age-related immunological changes, inequities in nutritional status, and interactions between parasites via coinfection are just a few of the many factors that generate heterogeneity among hosts in the ways they express susceptibility to, and respond to infection by, a focal pathogen. Moreover, organisms age, nutritional states improve or worsen, and co-infections can be cleared or acquired, implying that transitions between these different disease states are the rule, rather than the exception, in natural disease systems. Here we develop the theoretical framework for modeling the implications of such transitions in these multi-type host settings for the evolution of virulence. Results show that ignoring these common sources of host heterogeneities in disease characteristics can lead to both quantitatively and qualitatively mischaracterized evolutionary predictions.
Microsimulation Modeling in Oncology

PurposeMicrosimulation is a modeling technique that uses a sample size of individual units (microunits), each with a unique set of attributes, and allows for the simulation of downstream events on the basis of predefined states and transition probabilities between those states over time. In this article, we describe the history of the role of microsimulation in medicine and its potential applications in oncology as useful tools for population risk stratification and treatment strategy design for precision medicine.MethodsWe conducted a comprehensive and methodical search of the literature using electronic databases—Medline, Embase, and Cochrane—for works published between 1985 and 2016. A medical subject heading search strategy was constructed for Medline searches by using a combination of relevant search terms, such as “microsimulation model medicine,” “multistate modeling cancer,” and “oncology.”ResultsMicrosimulation modeling is particularly useful for the study of optimal intervention strategies when ...
Does corruption slow down innovation? Evidence from a cointegrated panel of U.S. states

Abstract I investigate the long-run relationship between corruption and innovative activity using annual data from 48 contiguous U.S. states between 1977 and 2006. Using U.S. data allows me to work with a panel long enough to exploit time series properties of the data. I use two different measures of innovative activity: one measuring the quantity and the other measuring the quality of the patents granted. I also use two different measures of corruption: one based on the number of corruption convictions, the other based on number of corruption stories covered in Associated Press news wires. Following Pedroni (1999, 2000), I estimate the cointegrating relationship between corruption and innovative activity with Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS). The results indicate that corruption indeed slows down innovation in the long-run.
‘I Don’t Like Maths, That’s Why I am in Journalism’: Journalism Student Perceptions and Myths about Data Journalism:

Journalism programs today face the need to train their students in the latest applications and tools - including data journalism techniques. Despite several classes and programs available in this s...
Reputation and the Value of Lawyers (Symposium: Business Lawyering and Value Creation for Clients)

WHAT do business lawyers really do? With this question, Professor Ronald Gilson opened his seminal discussion of the role business lawyers play in creating value. He concluded that by serving as transaction cost engineers, as architects of transactional structures that reduce the costs associated with uncertainty, business lawyers provide utility. From this theoretical perspective, Professor Gilson is then able to turn back to actual lawyers' work to explain its function in light of its contribution to the good of reducing transaction costs. My purpose here is to pose again much the same question. I wish also to proffer a theoretical perspective on the role business lawyers play in society and to use that conceptual lens to illuminate the structures that underlie lawyers' work and the organizations in which that work is done. Indeed, I find my theoretical insight among Gilson's examples of value creation by lawyers and his and Professor Mnookin's theories on the dynamics underlying law firm organization. But I have a greater ambition for my inquiry. I am looking for more than the economic value that is delivered in a business lawyer's service or the economic forces that explain law firm compensation schemes. I want to begin to look for the values that make business lawyers who they are and what they might become.
The Use of SSIMS and ISS to Examine Pt/TiO2 Surfaces

In the study of catalytic surfaces, it is very important to use techniques which are highly surface sensitive because the catalytic reactions actually occur at the outermost layer. SSIMS and ISS are two techniques which meet this criteria, and their combined use provides a particularly powerful approach for the study of complex surfaces. It is interesting to consider the similarities and differences between SSIMS and ISS because both enhance the synergism which makes the combined use much more effective than the use of either technique individually [1,2]. ISS and SSIMS are similar in that they both yield surface-sensitive, compositional information, they both employ a primary beam of inert gas ions as an excitation source and neither is well suited for determination of oxidation state or geometrical structure. ISS is essentially outermost layer sensitive while SSIMS samples the top few layers. ISS is most sensitive to heavy elements, and SSIMS is usually most sensitive to lighter species. This fact allows for a more complete mass analysis using both techniques rather than either one individually. Also, SSIMS has higher mass resolution and dynamic range than ISS.
Genbun itchi and Questione della lingua: Theoretical Intersections in the Creation of a New Written Language in Meiji Japan and Renaissance Italy

The written language of early Meiji (1868–1912) was extremely different from the spoken tongue, resulting in a diglossia that hampered Japan’s efforts at modernization. Scholars and intellectuals debated at length the role of the vernacular in writing. The development of genbun itchi (unification of the spoken with the written language) was the answer to their quest for a written language that satisfied the prerequisites of both intelligibility and literary refinement.
Safety of outpatient cardiac catheterisation in infants with single-ventricle or shunt-dependent biventricular congenital heart disease

Objective We aimed to investigate the incidence and causes of readmission of infants with single-ventricle and shunt-dependent biventricular CHD following routine, outpatient cardiac catheterisation. Background Cardiac catheterisation is commonly performed in patients with single-ventricle and shunt-dependent biventricular CHD for haemodynamic assessment and surgical planning. Best practices for post-procedural care in this population are unknown, and substantial variation exists between centres. Outpatient catheterisation reduces parental anxiety and decreases cost. Our institutional strategy is to discharge patients following a 4- to 6-hour post-procedure observation period. Methods Retrospective cohort study using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database identified patients 23 hours. There were no differences in baseline characteristics between discharged and admitted patients. Patients who underwent intervention were more likely to be admitted. Patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome did not have major adverse events or readmissions. No intra- or peri-procedural deaths occurred. Conclusions Outpatient cardiac catheterisation may be a safe option for infants with single-ventricle and shunt-dependent biventricular CHD, with low readmission rates and minimal morbidity.
Eight years after the coal ash spill – Fate of trace metals in the contaminated river sediments near Kingston, eastern Tennessee

Abstract In December 2008, the failure of a coal ash retention pond at the Kingston Fossil Plant in eastern Tennessee, United States contaminated the Emory River and Clinch River located upstream of the Watts Bar Reservoir on the Tennessee River. Despite an extensive cleanup effort, further leaching of metals to river water from residual coal ash remains a cause of concern. Also, it is unknown whether coal ash has undergone substantial burial by younger river sediments. In order to address these uncertainties, in spring 2016 we collected six 30 cm long sediment cores from five contaminated and one uncontaminated portions of the river systems. The cores were subdivided into ∼2–3 cm sediment layers, which were exposed to water and acid leaching for metal and metalloid analyses. The measured concentrations of arsenic are 10 times higher in the river sediments near the Kingston Plant compared to downstream locations. Using ratios of various metals (e.g., cadmium, chromium, selenium, vanadium) to arsenic, we have established that only arsenic and selenium in downstream sediments are predominantly sourced by coal ash (80–100%). For other metals (e.g., cadmium, chromium, vanadium) coal ash-derived contamination comprises