cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experiences surveying the crowd: reflections on methods, participation, and reliability

Crowdsourcing services such as Amazon's Mechanical Turk (MTurk) provide new venues for recruiting participants and conducting studies; hundreds of surveys may be offered to workers at any given time. We reflect on the results of six related studies we performed on MTurk over a two year period. The studies used a combination of open-ended questions and structured hypothetical statements about story-like scenarios to engage the efforts of 1252 participants. We describe the method used in the studies and reflect on what we have learned about identified best practices. We analyze the aggregated data to profile the types of Turkers who take surveys and examine how the characteristics of the surveys may influence data reliability. The results point to the value of participant engagement, identify potential changes in MTurk as a study venue, and highlight how communication among Turkers influences the data that researchers collect.
Sharp and simple bounds for the Erlang delay and loss formulae

We prove some simple and sharp lower and upper bounds for the Erlang delay and loss formulae and for the number of servers that invert the Erlang delay and loss formulae. We also suggest simple and sharp approximations for the number of servers that invert the Erlang delay and loss formulae. We illustrate the importance of these bounds by using them to establish convexity proofs. We show that the probability that the M/M/s queue is empty is a decreasing and convex function of the traffic intensity. We also give a very short proof to show that the Erlang delay formula is convex in the traffic intensity when the number of servers is held constant. The complete proof of this classical result has never been published. We also give a very short proof to show that the Erlang delay formula is a convex function of the (positive integer) number of servers. One of our results is then used to get a sharp bound to the Flow Assignment Problem.
Smurf1 Inhibits Osteoblast Differentiation and Bone Formation in Vitro and in Vivo

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are required for normal postnatal bone formation and osteoblast differentiation. There is evidence from recent studies that BMP signaling in osteoblasts is controlled by an ubiquitin-proteasome regulatory mechanism involving a cascade of enzymatic reactions. The specificity of protein ubiquitination is determined by E3 ubiquitin ligases, which play a crucial role in defining substrate specificity and subsequent protein degradation by 26S proteasomes. We have examined the role of the E3 ubiquitin ligase Smad ubiquitin regulatory factor 1 (Smurf1), a member of the Hect domain family of E3 ubiquitin ligases in osteoblast function. Smurf1 has been found to interact with BMP-activated Smad1 and -5 and to mediate degradation of these Smad proteins. Recently we have found that Smurf1 mediates the protein degradation of the osteoblast-specific transcription factor Runx2/Cbfa1. To determine the role of Smurf1 in osteoblast differentiation, in the present studies we transfected a Smurf1 expression plasmid into 2T3 osteoblast precursor cells and found that Smurf1 overexpression inhibits BMP signaling and osteoblast differentiation. To further investigate the role of Smurf1 in bone formation in vivo, we generated transgenic mice in which expression of the epitope-tagged Smurf1 transgene was targeted to osteoblasts using the murine 2.3-kb osteoblast-specific type I collagen promoter. In these transgenic mice, bone formation was significantly reduced during postnatal life. Our results demonstrate for the first time that Smurf1 plays a specific role in osteoblast differentiation and bone formation in vivo.
The Evolution of Human Gene Therapy: A Journey from Excessive Hype to Excessive Diffidence to Reality

Unlike Athena, who emerged from the brow of Zeus fully armed and ready for her godly duties, advances in biomedicine are not born fully formed and mature. Virtually all of the therapies and preventive methods that we take for granted—cancer chemotherapy, immunization techniques, tissue transplantation, management of cardiovascular disease, and treatment of diabetes and many other metabolic and degenerative diseases—have required decades of development and incremental advance from initial concept and early proof of concept to truly effective and widely applicable clinical application. They are all still imperfect but are evolving rapidly, and their practitioners are learning from false starts, detours, reversals, and missteps. In most cases, scientists, the public, policymakers, and the media understand and accept what is often a discouragingly slow pace of advance in a difficult new science. In contrast and for many reasons, the field of gene therapy found itself in its early stages on a somewhat unusual path, with many segments of the community—basic and clinical scientists and their institutions, the public and its agents, disease foundations and patients’ interest groups, the media, and the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries—too often expecting immediate success and not appreciating the inevitable need for slow, incremental evolutionary growth. There have been enough reviews of the history of gene therapy from concept to clinical application to establish the fact that it is still a very young discipline [1,2]. Its most obvious conceptual origins date back no further than the late 1960s and early 1970s [3], and its clinical applications began only in 1989–1990 [4,5]: a clinical history of a mere 15 to 16 years. In that relatively short period of
Predicted impacts of elevated temperature on the magnitude of the winter-spring phytoplankton bloom in temperate coastal waters : A mesocosm study

An experiment was conducted with six 13-m 3 23 d 21 ). Three treatment mesocosms were maintained at a temperature elevated ;18C relative to the long-term (1977-1989) average, ambient temperature in the parent system, Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, and elevated ;38C from three control mesocosms. Warmer temperatures were hypothesized to result in lower phytoplankton biomass during the winter-spring bloom period as a result of increased grazing related to greater metabolic activity of both zooplankton and the benthos. Mean phytoplankton biomass and abundance were lower in the mesocosms with warmer temperatures. Well-developed phytoplankton blooms occurred in two of the three cool systems. The presence of high numbers of filter-feeding mussels (Mytilus edulis) prevented a bloom from occurring in the third cool system. Unlike most benthic organisms, mussels continue to filter at high rates even at very low temperatures. Analyses of variance (ANOVAs), after adjusting for mussel biomass, revealed significant (P , 0.05) or near significant (P , 0.10) differences in phytoplankton (abundance and biomass), zooplankton abundance, and sedi- mentation rates between warm and cool treatments. Experimental and literature data were combined to develop carbon budgets for the six systems. Budgets for the warm systems indicated that carbon produced by phytoplankton was lost primarily by grazing of zooplankton, mussels, or both (29-55%) and to a lesser degree, by sedimentation (29-43%). In the cool systems without mussels, losses via sedimentation (73-82%) predominated, with an average ninefold increase in the amount of material supplied to the benthos relative to warm systems.
Length of Group Membership, Assumed Similarity, and Opinion Certainty: The Dividend for Veteran Members

Newcomer and veteran fraternity members indicated their own attitudinal position on each of 10 issues and then estimated the positions of either prospective or full in-group members or they received no opportunity to project. All subjects then rated their certainty about their own position on each issue. As expected. both newcomers and veterans assumed greater attitudinal similarity to in-group members than to prospective members. Moreover, projection onto in-group members only increased the opinion certainty of veteran members. Their certainty correlated with the percentage of their friends who were in-group members. Newcomers' certainty increased only after projection onto the lower status recruits. Membership tenure and social identity are discussed in relation to attitudinal projection and the goals of social comparison.
Some Remarks on the Acoustics of the Piano

Much has been written about the piano. There are a number of excellent books and research articles that discuss the history, evolution, and acoustics of the instrument (Fletcher and Rossing 1991; Pollens 1995; Suzuki and Nakamura 1990; Conklin 1996a, b, c; Good 2001). However, most of these sources are either at a very qualitative level or aimed at the dedicated acoustician. Our goal in this chapter is to bridge these two extremes and to show how some elementary knowledge of physics and acoustics in general, and of the piano in particular, give interesting insight to the nature and composition of a piano tone. We hope that the next few pages will be of interest to scientists and nonscientists alike.
Personality traits and economic activity

ABSTRACTFollowing Lynn’s (1991) studying showing that the scores of undergraduate students in 43 countries on variables such as work ethic and achievement motivation predicted per capita income and economic growth rates in those countries, the present study explored whether the average scores of residents of the 50 states in the United States were associated with the gross state product. States whose residents scored higher on openness had higher gross state products while those whose residents scored higher in openness and lower on neuroticism had higher gross state products per capita.
Intramuscular perforator dissection with the hydrodissection technique.

Background Perforator flap breast reconstruction requires increased time for safe perforator dissection, especially the intramuscular course. We describe an adjunctive technique using hydrodissection to assist with the intramuscular perforator dissection. Methods Hydrodissection techniques were used for perforator dissection in 45 consecutive patients (64 flaps) undergoing deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction. These patients were compared with 39 patients (55 flaps) immediately prior to the use of this technique. The study time frame was between March 2008 and March 2010. Patient demographics, complications, and operative times were collected through an extensive chart review. Results There were no major differences in complications between groups; there were no flap losses encountered during this series, and fat necrosis rates were similar (9.4% with hydrodissection and 14.5% without, p = 0.41). Total operative time for bilateral reconstructions decreased by 59 minutes (p = 0.13) and 21 minutes (p = 0.57) for unilateral reconstructions with the utilization of hydrodissection, though this was not statistically significant. Conclusions The use of hydrodissection to assist with intramuscular perforator vessel dissection is safe to perform, as there was no increase in complications. The procedures utilizing hydrodissection were faster, and surgeons using this technique found it easier to visualize the perforators and dissect through the intramuscular course.
What can we say about the future of social science

Social science has for the most part lost its ambition to be ‘science’, as shown in the recent change in the American Anthropological Association statement of purpose. The new term is expertise. The change points to something fundamental: social science methods are now largely stable; they have well-developed uses for public and policy audiences; because they are user-friendly they are unlikely to radically change, and new problems arise for them to be applied to. New concepts are developed, but they do not develop into ‘theories’ in a scientific sense. So what is expertise? It is something other than fact generation: it is the result of aggregating and assessing research in an area. Experts engage with one another, so there is a community of expertise. Yet there is also another sense of ‘scientific’: using the tools of natural science and extending them to the social. The current means of doing this for social science is through neuroscience. These methods could serve to filter and validate social scienc...
RISE: Promoting Diversity Among Public Health Professionals.

CONTEXT Public health education and research training of underrepresented populations is an important component of a comprehensive approach to promote health equity. OBJECTIVE To describe student outcomes following participation in an innovative public health training cooperative agreement program funded by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. PARTICIPANTS Sixty-six graduate, professional, and recent baccalaureate degree students participated in the Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement program. The majority of the students were from underrepresented populations (95%) and female (80%). INTERVENTION The Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement program, a collaboration between a university-affiliated Institute and Historically Black Colleges and Universities, provided public health educational and research experiences during the summer and academic year. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Student presentations at national meetings, publications, and completion of degree programs. RESULTS The acceptance rate for student presentations at national scientific meetings was 89%. Almost 14 percent of the students were authors of peer-reviewed articles. More than one-third of the students (36%) completed their master's degree and 33% completed doctoral degrees during the 5 years of the program. Students used their Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement program research to complete master's theses, practicum requirements, and dissertations. Ninety-five percent of the students pursued education or careers in public health and health care.
Study on the poliomyelitis neutralized antibody level of healthy population in Langfang City

[Objective]To investigate the poliomyelitis antibody level in healthy people in Langfang City. [Methods]A total of 1 632 people of 8 age groups(0,1 to 2,3 to 4,5 to 6,7 to 9,10 to 14,15 to 19,and ≥20 years) were sampled by the multi-stage stratified sampling method from 10 districts in Langfang City.Their blood samples were collected for poliomyelitis neutralized antibody level test. [Results] The neutralized antibody positive rate for polio Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ were 97.7%,97.3% and 97.5% respectively,the geometric mean titers(GMT) were 1∶73.76,1∶78.55 and 1∶74.44 respectively.A trend of decreasing was observed in the GMTs with increasing age.There were no significant differences in antibody levels between different gender,household registers,regions or immunization histories.[Conclusion]A stable immunization barrier has been established in healthy population in Langfang City.
A linear equation that describes the steady-state kinetics of enzymes and subcellular particles interacting with tightly bound inhibitors.

When an enzyme exhibits a high affinity for an inhibitor, the steady-state analysis of the mechanism is complicated by the non-linearity of normal dose–response plots or of reciprocal replots. It is shown here that dose–response measurements generate a linear plot of inhibitor concentration divided by degree of inhibition against velocity without inhibitor divided by velocity with inhibitor; the concentration of enzyme may be derived from the extrapolated intercept of such plots, and the mechanism of inhibition from replots of the variation of the slope with substrate concentration. The limiting cases where virtually all inhibitor molecules are bound or virtually all are free are described, together with the situation when a significant proportion of the substrate becomes bound. This type of analysis indicates that the inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation, rutamycin and bongkrekic acid, are tightly bound to rat liver mitochondria.
Investigation of isoseismals for some large magnitude earthquakes in China

Documented historical records of large-magnitude earthquakes in China, in addition to providing data for preparing catalogs for seismostatistical investigations, have been used by seismologists for constructing isoseismal maps. Isoseismals of earthquakes tend to be influenced by the surficial sedimentary terrain, and in the case of the historical earthquakes, the ambient population density affected earthquake reporting used in preparing isoseismal maps. However, isoseismal geometry in the epicentral region also reflects on the pattern of faulting associated with the earthquake, whether the faults are visible on the surface or not. Isoseismals for a large number of earthquakes in China have been examined and interpreted. An interesting deduction is the definition of a boundary separating the East China mini-plate from the West China mini-plate which strikes almost north-south between longitudes 102° and 105°E and extends from about 25° to 36°N. Isoseismals on the west of this boundary are elongated from NW to NNW while on the east from NS to NNE. Beginning with 1800 A.D., available isoseismals of all earthquakes of magnitude greater than or equal to 6 have been examined for this area. These isoseismal geometries, combined with the inferred left-lateral, strike-slip faulting on satellite imagery, as well as on some recent earthquakes on the western side of the boundary, and the rotation measured by Chinese scientists near the city of Shan Tan during the February 11, 1954 earthquake (38°51′N, 101° 22′E, focal depth 12.5 km, M = 7 1 4 ) are consistent with a clockwise rotation of the West China mini-plate.
Quasisteady-state regime in transient stimulated Raman scattering

The question of the cumulative effect of multiple pulses on the Raman threshold for a pulse train has recently attracted some experimental attention.1 Although this problem can be modeled in a straightforward manner by integrating the transient equations for Raman scattering,2 the temporal resolution required to view the development of the individual pulses in the case of short pulses compared to the interpulse period may be prohibitive if the conversion reaches steady state only after many pulses. By making a physical argument as to the meaning of the quasisteady-state regime in transient stimulated Raman scattering, we are able to develop a method for easily calculating the pump-Stokes conversion by examining only a single pulse in a train which has reached equilibrium. The medium polarization at the beginning of the pulse is solved self-consistently assuming periodic boundary conditions and uses as an initial condition in the integration.
A scalable SNMP-based distributed monitoring system for heterogeneous network computing

Traditional centralized monitoring systems do not scale to present-day large, complex, network-computing systems. Based on recent SNMP standards for distributed management, this paper addresses the scalability problem through distribution of monitoring tasks, applicable for tools such as SIMONE (SNMP-based monitoring prototype implemented by the authors).Distribution is achieved by introducing one or more levels of a dual entity called the Intermediate Level Manager (ILM) between a manager and the agents. The ILM accepts monitoring tasks described in the form of scripts and delegated by the next higher entity. The solution is flexible and integratable into a SNMP tool without altering other system components. A testbed of up to 1024 monitoring elements is used to assess scalability. Noticeable improvements in the round trip delay (from seconds to less than one tenth of a second) were observed when more than 200 monitoring elements are present and as few as two ILM's are used.
Fatores inerentes à realização de trabalhos científicos no ACeS de Gondomar: estudo transversal

Objectives: Research is essential for development of general practice as a scientific discipline. In Portugal, there are many difficulties in performing research in primary health care. This study was conducted to quantify the scientific output of family doctors and trainees in primary care units in Gondomar, to understand their motivation for doing research, and to assess the factors related to successful completion of research. Type of study: Cross-sectional study. Location: Gondomar Group of Health Centres, Portugal. Population: Family medicine specialists and trainees. Methods: We performed a census among the 133 general practitioners in the Gondomar Group of Health Centres using an original questionnaire. The variables studied were the number and of studies performed by the participants over a two-year period. We also asked participants about their satisfaction with the amount of research done and the factors that supported the performance of research. Results: We received 79 completed questionnaires for a response rate of 59.4%. There were 212 studies reported for a mean of 2.68 studies per doctor. Trainees were involved in a higher number of studies than specialists, with a mean of 6 studies per trainee. About half the doctors (46.8%) were not involved in any studies during the study period and over half of the participants (57%) were not satisfied with the number of studies done. Lack of time in general and time for research in particular were the main reasons given for not conducting research. Conclusion: General practice in Portugal is evolving but there is still a long way to go in promoting high quality research in primary health care centres.
Management Characteristics and Labour Conflict, a Study of Managerial Organization, Attitudes and Industrial Relations

(1979). Management Characteristics and Labour Conflict, a Study of Managerial Organization, Attitudes and Industrial Relations. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 248-249.
Freshwater Recirculating Aquaculture System Operations Drive Biofilter Bacterial Community Shifts around a Stable Nitrifying Consortium of Ammonia-Oxidizing Archaea and Comammox Nitrospira .

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are unique engineered ecosystems that minimize environmental perturbation by reducing nutrient pollution discharge. RAS typically employ a biofilter to control ammonia levels produced as a byproduct of fish protein catabolism. Nitrosomonas (ammonia-oxidizing), Nitrospira and Nitrobacter (nitrite-oxidizing) species are thought to be the primary nitrifiers present in RAS biofilters. We explored this assertion by characterizing the biofilter bacterial and archaeal community of a commercial scale freshwater RAS that has been in operation for >15 years. We found the biofilter community harbored a diverse array of bacterial taxa (>1000 genus-level taxon assignments) dominated by Chitinophagaceae (~12%) and Acidobacteria (~9%). The bacterial community exhibited significant composition shifts with changes in biofilter depth and in conjunction with operational changes across a fish rearing cycle. Archaea also were abundant, and were comprised solely of a low diversity assemblage of Thaumarchaeota (>95%), thought to be ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) from the presence of AOA ammonia monooxygenase genes. Nitrosomonas were present at all depths and time points. However, their abundance was >3 orders of magnitude less than AOA and exhibited significant depth-time variability not observed for AOA. Phylogenetic analysis of the nitrite oxidoreductase beta subunit (nxrB) gene indicated two distinct Nitrospira populations were present, while Nitrobacter were not detected. Subsequent identification of Nitrospira ammonia monooxygenase alpha subunit genes in conjunction with the phylogenetic placement and quantification of the nxrB genotypes suggests complete ammonia-oxidizing (comammox) and nitrite-oxidizing Nitrospira populations co-exist with relatively equivalent and stable abundances in this system. It appears RAS biofilters harbor complex microbial communities whose composition can be affected directly by typical system operations while supporting multiple ammonia oxidation lifestyles within the nitrifying consortium.
Can experience overcome stereotypes in times of terror threat

Research on evaluations of leaders has frequently found that female leaders receive lower ratings in times of national security crisis. However, less is known about countervailing factors. We conte...
Multi-scale Investigation on Yield “Symmetry” and Reduced Strength Differential in an Mg–Y Alloy

Mg and its alloys are promising candidates for light-weighted structural applications, e.g., aircraft, automobile, electronic, etc. However, the inherent hexagonal close packed crystal structure makes the deformation of Mg anisotropic, namely deformation only occur by dislocation slip in the close-packed (0001) plane (i.e., basal plane), or by deformation twinning in \( \{ 10\bar{1}2\} \) planes. Consequently, polycrystalline Mg alloys undergone thermos-mechanical processing usually contain strong texture, i.e., preferred crystallographic orientation in grains. The texture in turn leads to anisotropic deformation in wrought Mg alloys. For example, in extruded Mg alloys, the compressive yield strength is usually much lower than the tensile yield strength (so-called yield asymmetry and strength differential). It is the anisotropy that hinders the broader application of Mg alloys. Recent modeling study on Mg predicts that certain alloying elements, particularly rare-earth elements (e.g., Y, Ce, Nd, Gd, etc.), could alter the active deformation modes, and promote more homogeneous deformation and overall mechanical properties in Mg. Therefore, this work aims to investigate experimentally the effects of alloying element Y in reducing the intrinsic and extrinsic anisotropy, modifying texture, and enhancing the overall strength and ductility for Mg. Fine-grained Mg 2.5 at.% Y alloy (FG Mg–2.5Y) was prepared by powder metallurgy method, including gas atomization for producing Mg–2.5Y powder, degassing and hot isostatic pressing (HIP), and hot extrusion. Both the as-HIPed and the as-extruded materials were characterized by electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and/or atom probe tomography (APT). Tension and compression tests were carried out along the extrusion direction (ED) for FG Mg–2.5Y. Unlike common Mg alloys exhibiting yield asymmetry, the FG Mg–2.5Y exhibits virtual yield “symmetry” and significantly reduced strength differential. Namely the deformation is more isotropic. In addition to post-mortem TEM characterization for deformed FG Mg–2.5Y, in situ TEM was also performed at the National Center for Electron Microscopy (NCEM), in an effort to understand the fundamental deformation mechanisms in FG Mg–Y that lead to reduced anisotropy. In situ TEM for single-crystal Mg–Y nano-pillars reveals that deformation twinning is replaced by dislocation slip in non-basal planes (i.e., prismatic planes), which diametrically differs from any other Mg alloys.
Prevalence and determinants of malaria among children in Zambézia Province, Mozambique

Malaria is the leading cause of death among children in Mozambique. Prevalence and factors associated with malaria are not well studied among children in rural Zambezia Province. Whether prevalence of malaria varies across diverse districts within the province is unknown. A cross-sectional survey of female heads of household was conducted during April and May 2014, a period of peak malaria transmission. Data were collected on up to two randomly selected children aged 6–59 months per household. The outcome of interest was self-report of symptomatic malaria confirmed by diagnostic test in the past 30 days. Analyses accounted for the two-stage cluster sample design. Prevalence of symptomatic malaria was calculated for the province and three over-sampled focus districts—Alto Molocue, Morrumbala, and Namacurra. Multivariable logistic regression of symptomatic malaria diagnosis included: district, age, sex, education, bed net use, urban setting, distance to health facility, income, roofing material, and pig farming. Data were collected on 2540 children. Fifty percent were female, and the median age was 24 months. Sixty percent of children slept under bed nets the night prior to the survey, but utilization varied between districts (range 49–89%; p < 0.001). Forty-three percent of children reported fever in the past 30 days, 91% of those sought care at a health facility, 67% of those had either a malaria rapid diagnostic test or blood smear, and 67% of those had a positive test result and therefore met our case definition of self-reported symptomatic malaria. There were significant differences in prevalence of fever (p < 0.001), health-seeking (p < 0.001), and diagnostic testing (p = 0.003) between focus districts. Province-wide prevalence of symptomatic malaria was 13% and among focus districts ranged from 14% in Morrumbala to 17% in Namacurra (p < 0.001). Higher female caregiver education (OR 1.88; 95% CI 1.31–2.70), having fewer young children in the household (OR 1.25; 95% CI 1.01–1.56), and higher income (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.11–2.22) were independently associated with having a child with symptomatic malaria. Self-reported symptomatic malaria is highly prevalent among children in Zambezia Province, Mozambique and varies significantly between diverse districts. Factors facilitating access to health services are associated with symptomatic malaria diagnosis. These findings should inform resource allocation in the fight against malaria in Mozambique.
Canalization, Cryptic Variation, and Developmental Buffering: A Critical Examination and Analytical Perspective

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on assessing canalization and cryptic genetic variation. Regardless of the concerns with the mechanistic explanation of genetic assimilation, the plausibility of the phenomena of genetic assimilation as well as the existence of cryptic genetic variation were established via some empirical experiments. Waddington demonstrated that traits that were invariant under most (normal) environmental circumstances could be sensitized so as to express phenotypic variation for these traits. The classic example of Waddington's was the use of a high-temperature “heat-shock” in Drosophila, which resulted in some flies having lost their wing cross-veins. Waddington demonstrated that the cross-veinless phenotype could be selected upon, suggesting considerable hidden (cryptic) genetic variation for this trait. In considering the origin of developmental variation, one must consider the contribution of both genetic (mutational) sources and sources of variation arising from developmental processes themselves (intrinsic sources of developmental variation). Phenotypic effects of intrinsic developmental variation are seen in phenomena ranging from fluctuating asymmetry to variable penetrance and expressivity of alleles. From evolutionary perspectives, it is possible to conceive that variation arose first as intrinsic variation and then was captured genetically by abundant genetic variation. Such a scenario provides an alternative to the “genes first” ideas of neo-Darwinism and provides additional avenues for rapid and saltational changes in the evolution of development as well as for gradual change.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement: indications and beyond the clinical trials.

Since the first balloon-expandable transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in 2002 by Cribier and colleagues1 and the first self-expanding TAVR by Grube and associates in 2004,2 TAVR has grown rapidly to more than 50,000 implantations worldwide. This rapid expansion has occurred despite relatively small feasibility studies, case series, and registries. Few of these early trials had independent clinical-event committees or core labs. The data, however, were encouraging and TAVR for nonoperative and high-risk patients spread rapidly. Approval in the United States, though, required more rigorous data. Currently, there are only 4 prospective randomized trials of TAVR. These are the Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valve (PARTNER) trial, the Medtronic CoreValve® U.S. Pivotal Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) trial (Medtronic Inc.; Minneapolis, Minn), the PARTNER II trial, and the Safety and Efficacy Study of the Medtronic CoreValve® System in the Treatment of Severe, Symptomatic Aortic Stenosis in Intermediate Risk Subjects Who Need Aortic Valve Replacement (SurTAVI) trial. The PARTNER trial has been completed and the results published.3,4 The PARTNER trial data have led to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the SAPIEN balloon-expandable valve (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation; Irvine, Calif) for nonoperative and high-risk patients. This is the only currently approved TAVR valve in the U.S. The CoreValve U.S. IDE Pivotal Trial was completed in 2012, and initial publication is likely in late 2013, after presentation at the Transcatheter Therapy meeting. The PARTNER II and SurTAVI trials are still actively recruiting at this point.
Syncope Units: Impact on Patient Care and Health-Related Costs

Clinical decision making can be challenging regarding the emergency department (ED) management of patients with recent syncope. Several models of the syncope management unit are summarized in this article. Assessment of patients with recent syncope in a specialized evaluation unit, such as an emergency department-based syncope management unit, holds great promise in terms of reducing hospital admissions, reducing costs and improving outcomes for patients with syncope.
Atmospheric Methods for Nuclear Test Monitoring

Since 1979 the United States Department of Energy (DOE) has carried out a research and development program examining the utility of various “atmospheric methods” for the detection and monitoring of nuclear explosions. “Atmospheric methods” are detection technologies which sense the disturbances in the air which result from an atmospheric explosion and/or the ground motion above a nuclear explosion buried in the ground. This work was motivated by the understanding in 1979 that, for a comprehensive test ban, there would be many problems that seismic monitoring alone would not be able to address (in particular various evasion scenarios). There was also the desire to seek out other detection methodologies to fulfill the generally accepted idea that dual phenomenology should yield more information than any single detection phenomena.
GFIRS: a graphical fuzzy information retrieval system

There are several difficulties in information retrieval from database systems for users. One is how users express their intention by using some complex predefined functions or commands provided by a typical system. Another is how to identify the right portions of a database that the users want to base their queries on. Still another is that humans do not always think in exact ways and their ideas may be fuzzy, but most database systems can only handle precise queries. We propose a methodology which combines a graphical database querying model with fuzzy retrieval facilities.
How important are truth-conditions for truth-conditional semantics?

In this paper, I argue that while truth-conditional semantics in generative linguistics provides lots of good semantic explanations, truth-conditions do not play an important role in these explanations. That is, the fact that expressions have the particular truthconditional contents (extensions or intensions) they have does not even partly explain facts about semantic phenomena. Rather, explanations of semantic phenomena appeal to extra-truth-conditional properties attributed to expressions via their lexical entries. Focusing on recent truth-conditional work on gradable adjectives and degree modifiers by Kennedy and McNally (Language 81:345–381, 2005), I show that the best explanations of semantic anomaly and entailment for these expressions are non-truth-conditional—they do not depend on the fact that these expressions have the truth-conditional contents they have. I then provide reasons for thinking that the point generalizes beyond gradable adjectives and degree modifiers to other expressions, and beyond anomaly and entailment to other semantic phenomena. Truth-conditional content, generally, is extrasemantic.
Understanding Pore Formation in ALD Alumina Overcoats.

AlOX thin films deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) have previously been used to increase both stability and selectivity of supported palladium catalysts and are known to develop nanoscale p...
Configuration and Validation of an Oceanic Physical and Biogeochemical Model to Investigate Coastal Eutrophication in the Southern California Bight

The Southern California Bight (SCB), an eastern boundary upwelling system, is impacted by global warming, acidification and deoxygetation, and receives anthropogenic nutrients from a coastal popula...
Effect of Hypothyroidism on Force and Kinetics in End-stage Failing Human Myocardium

Introduction The relationship between hypothyroidism and the occurrence and progression of heart failure (HF) had an increase interest over the past years. The low T3 syndrome, characterized by reduced T3 in the presence of normal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free T4 concentration, is a strong predictor of all-cause mortality in HF patients. Still, the impact of hypothyroidism on the contractility properties of failing human heart is unknown. Therefore, the goal of our study was to investigate the hypothyroidism in heart failure using ex-vivo force of contraction and kinetics assessments in left ventricular intact human myocardial muscle preparations. Methods Uniform linear trabeculae were dissected from three groups: (1) non-failing hearts (n=9), (2) failing hearts without underling thyroid dysfunction (n=9), and (3) failing hearts with hypothyroidism (n=9). These muscles were transferred into a custom-made setup where the three main physiological modulators that regulate the contractile strength, length-dependent activation, frequency-dependent activation, and β-adrenergic stimulation were assessed under near-physiological conditions. Clinical information for all patients with HF and hypothyroidism in our study revealed that these patients were receiving levothyroxine treatment. Results Hypothyroidism did not show any additional significant impact on the force of contraction and kinetics of contraction/relaxation different than the recognized alterations usually detected in such parameters in any end-stage failing heart without underlying thyroid dysfunction. Conclusions We suggest the usefulness of levothyroxine treatment in repressing the myocardial alterations of hypothyroidism and limiting them to those caused by HF syndrome itself in our study. Absence of statistical difference between TSH levels of patients with HF and hypothyroidism and TSH levels of patients with HF and no thyroid dysfunction reflects the efficiency and accuracy of the thyroid hormone doses used in treating these patients. More studies are still needed to explore the full potential of the therapeutic use of thyroid hormones in treating HF associated with hypothyroidism.
Russian Internet Research Agency Disinformation Activities on Tumblr: Identity, Privacy, and Ambivalence:

On 24 March 2018, Tumblr terminated 84 user accounts identified as being “linked to Internet Research Agency or IRA (a group closely tied to the Russian government) posing as members of the Tumblr ...
Discovery of Dramatically Improved Ammonia Synthesis Catalysts through Hierarchical High-Throughput Catalyst Screening of the Fe(211) Surface

In order to improve efficiency of ammonia synthesis using the Haber–Bosch (HB) process with Fe-based catalysts, we employed quantum mechanics (QM)-based hierarchical high-throughput catalyst screen...
Comparing the effectiveness of home visiting paraprofessionals and mental health professionals delivering a postpartum depression preventive intervention: a cluster-randomized non-inferiority clinical trial.

To determine whether pregnant women receiving the Mothers and Babies group–based intervention exhibited greater depressive symptom reductions and fewer new cases of major depression than women receiving usual community-based services, and to examine whether groups run by paraprofessional home visitors and mental health professionals yielded similar depressive symptom reductions and prevention of major depression. Using a cluster-randomized design, 37 home visiting programs were randomized to usual home visiting, Mothers and Babies delivered via home visiting paraprofessionals, or Mothers and Babies delivered via mental health professionals. Baseline assessments were conducted prenatally with follow-up extending to 24 weeks postpartum. Eligibility criteria were ≥ 16 years old, ≤ 33 gestation upon referral, and Spanish/English speaking. Depressive symptoms at 24 weeks postpartum was the primary outcome. Eight hundred seventy-four women were enrolled. Neither intervention arm was superior to usual care in decreasing depressive symptoms across the sample (p = 0.401 home visiting paraprofessional vs. control; p = 0.430 mental health professional vs. control). Post hoc analyses suggest a positive intervention effect for women exhibiting mild depressive symptoms at baseline. We have evidence of non-inferiority, as the model-estimated mean difference in depressive symptoms between intervention arms (0.01 points, 95% CI: −0.79, 0.78) did not surpass our pre-specified margin of non-inferiority of two points. Although we did not find statistically significant differences between intervention and control arms, non-inferiority analyses found paraprofessional home visitors generated similar reductions in depressive symptoms as mental health professionals. Additionally, Mothers and Babies appears to reduce depressive symptoms among women with mild depressive symptoms when delivered by mental health professionals. This trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (initial post: December 1, 2016; identifier: NCT02979444).
Electron Bernstein waves and narrowband plasma waves near the electron cyclotron frequency in the near-Sun solar wind

Context. Recent studies of the solar wind sunward of 0.25 AU reveal that it contains quiescent regions, with low-amplitude plasma and magnetic field fluctuations, and a magnetic field direction similar to the Parker spiral. The quiescent regions are thought to have a more direct magnetic connection to the solar corona than other types of solar wind, suggesting that waves or instabilities in the quiescent regions are indicative of the early evolution of the solar wind as it escapes the corona. The quiescent solar wind regions are highly unstable to the formation of plasma waves near the electron cyclotron frequency (f ce ).Aims. We examine high time resolution observations of these waves in an effort to understand their impact on electron distribution functions of the quiescent near-Sun solar wind.Methods. High time resolution waveform captures of near-f ce waves were examined to determine variations of their amplitude and frequency in time as well as their polarization properties.Results. We demonstrate that the near-f ce wave intervals contain several distinct wave types, including electron Bernstein waves and extremely narrowband waves that are highly sensitive to the ambient magnetic field orientation. Using the properties of these waves, we suggest possible plasma wave mode classifications and possible instabilities that generate these waves. The results of this analysis indicate that these waves may modify the cold core of the electron distribution functions in the quiescent near-Sun solar wind.
Investigation on the Diluent Effect on Solvent Extraction Processes of Trivalent f-Elements by Di-Alkyl Organophosphorus Extractants

Solvent extraction is the most common chemical technique used in hydrometallurgical separations and purification of transition metals and f-elements. Solvent extraction of metallic cations, such as the f-elements, needs the use of organic ligands (extractants) to coordinate the targeted cation, to make it soluble in an organic phase and then allow the phase transfer from the aqueous phase to the organic one. The family of acidic di-alkyl organophosphorus extractants are the extractants of choice for trivalent metals. Furthermore, the large catalogue of diluents available for experimentation is one of the delightful aspects of solvent extraction chemistry (and probably to other chemistry domains). There are so many to choose from, and each has its special applications where it outshines the rest. This dissertation is focusing on the influence of the choice of the diluent on the solvent extraction process of selected trivalent f-elements (Nd3+, Eu3+, Tm3+ and Am3+) by HEH[EHP]. The results show that the diluent influences the efficiency of the extraction (characterized by the Kex), but also the stoichiometry of the metal chelate. Spectrophotometry shows that the coordination of the metal chelate is invariant from one diluent to another. The results of the extraction of Eu3+ by HEH[EHP] are then compared to the diluent properties that are relevant for the solvation process (cavitation, dispersion and association). Finally, van’t Hoff analysis is applied to the extraction of Am3+ and Nd3+ by HDEHP in various diluents, reveling an entropy and enthalpy compensation effect.
Multi-Trait Multi-Environment Genomic Prediction of Agronomic Traits in Advanced Breeding Lines of Winter Wheat.

Genomic prediction (GP) is a promising approach for accelerating the genetic gain of complex traits in wheat breeding. However, increasing the prediction accuracy (PA) of GP models remains a challenge in the successful implementation of this approach. Multivariate approaches can leverage simultaneous evaluation of several traits under multiple environments by exploring correlations to improve GS performance in breeding programs. Though, these models have been mostly evaluated using diverse panels of unrelated accessions. Here, we used multivariate GP models to predict multiple agronomic traits using 314 advanced and elite breeding lines of winter wheat evaluated at ten site-year environments. We evaluated a multi-trait (MT) model with two cross-validation schemes representing different breeding scenarios (CV1, prediction of completely unphenotyped lines; and CV2, prediction of lines partially phenotyped for correlated traits). Moreover, extensive data from multi-environment trials (METs) was used to cross-validate the Bayesian multi-trait multi-environment (MTME) model that integrates the analysis of multiple-traits including GxE interaction. The MT-CV2 model outperformed all other models for predicting grain yield with significant improvement in PA over the single-trait (ST-CV1) model. The MTME model performed better for all traits, with average improvement over the ST-CV1 reaching up to 19%, 71%, 17%, 48%, and 51% for grain yield, for grain protein content, test weight, plant height, and days to heading, respectively. Overall, our empirical analyses elucidate the potential of both MT-CV2 and MTME models when advanced breeding lines are used as training population to predict related preliminary breeding lines. Further, we also evaluated the practical application of MTME model in our breeding program to reduce phenotyping cost by using sparse testing design. This showed that complementing METs with GP can substantially enhance the resource efficiency. Our results demonstrate that the multivariate GS models hold great potential in implementing GS in breeding programs.
A Comparison of Simulated and Measured Data for an FSS Structure using FEKO in the X-Band

The advent of Frequency Selective Surfaces (FSS) has appeal for applications that may need to inhibit or permit the transmission of a frequency band through a surface. This paper compares the simulated transmission and reflection properties of an FSS structure (i.e., a Jerusalem Cross) from the standpoint of simulated and measured data. All simulations were done using FEKO.