cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Second Order Superintegrable Systems in Three Dimensions

A classical (or quantum) superintegrable system on an n-dimensional Rieman- nian manifold is an integrable Hamiltonian system with potential that admits 2n 1 func- tionally independent constants of the motion that are polynomial in the momenta, the maximum number possible. If these constants of the motion are all quadratic, the system is second order superintegrable. Such systems have remarkable properties. Typical properties are that 1) they are integrable in multiple ways and comparison of ways of integration leads to new facts about the systems, 2) they are multiseparable, 3) the second order symmetries generate a closed quadratic algebra and in the quantum case the representation theory of the quadratic algebra yields important facts about the spectral resolution of the Schrodinger op- erator and the other symmetry operators, and 4) there are deep connections with expansion formulas relating classes of special functions and with the theory of Exact and Quasi-exactly Solvable systems. For n = 2 the author, E.G. Kalnins and J. Kress, have worked out the structure of these systems and classified all of the possible spaces and potentials. Here I discuss our recent work and announce new results for the much more dicult case n = 3. We consider classical superintegrable systems with nondegenerate potentials in three dimen- sions and on a conformally flat real or complex space. We show that there exists a standard structure for such systems, based on the algebra of 3 ◊ 3 symmetric matrices, and that the quadratic algebra always closes at order 6. We describe the Stackel transformation, an in- vertible conformal mapping between superintegrable structures on distinct spaces, and give evidence indicating that all our superintegrable systems are Stackel transforms of systems on complex Euclidean space or the complex 3-sphere. We also indicate how to extend the classical 2D and 3D superintegrability theory to include the operator (quantum) case.
Use of artificial potential fields for UAV guidance and optimization of WLAN communications

Wireless local area networks (WLAN) are quickly becoming an important part of regional military operations. The use of standardized Internet protocols enables a wide variety of vehicles, sensors and personnel to interoperate more effectively. For autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV), they permit a potentially great improvement to distribute outputs from data intensive sensors like sonar and video to observers. For a fleet of AUVs tasked with area underwater search and survey, WLANs can facilitate situational awareness, re-tasking and expedience.
Electronic brokering for assisted contracting of software applets

In the new era of electronic commerce, with its efficiency and globalization of communication, the ability to quickly create mutually beneficial contracts will become a critical success factor for organizations. Unfortunately, volatile complex markets demand dynamic deal making not effectively addressed by current technologies. Intermediaries will provide a solution for organizations by efficiently applying specialized knowledge to product value chains, above and beyond the costs they impose. More specifically, electronic brokers will provide automated assistance for electronic contracting through knowledge of: (1) the market, (2) requirements analysis, and (3) negotiation. Herein, we motivate the need for an intermediary contract broker, define requirements of an automated broker, and illustrate our prototype, called APPLET DEALMAKER, with an example from the domain of electronic software applet contracting. The prototype demonstrates how the automated application of contracting knowledge-especially contract restructuring-can assist users in deriving mutually beneficial deals.
A Diagnosis of Tropospheric Effects upon Surface Precipitation Amount for a Sample of East Coast Snowstorms

Abstract Upper-air variables have been correlated with near-simultaneous precipitation observations from 35 winter storms that produced heavy snowfall in the eastern coastal region of the United States. Standard radiosonde observations (raob’s) were used to calculate upper-air variables at mandatory levels, while liquid-equivalent precipitation amounts were gathered from surface reports at five stations within the region. This study seeks to identify those synoptic-scale variables, individually and in combination with other variables that may be useful to estimate short-term precipitation amount. Using both simple and multiple correlation analyses, the selected variables (e.g., thermal and vorticity advections, wind speeds, moisture convergence and advection, divergence, etc.) were correlated with precipitation amounts occurring over 1-, 3-, and 6-h periods near raob times. The best correlated upper-air variables (using the 6-h duration) are 850-mb temperature advection (0.48), 850-mb equivalent potential...
E-mailed Evidence Based Summaries Impact Physician Learning More than Practice

A Review of: Grad, Roland M., Pierre Pluye, Jay Mercer, Bernard Marlow, Marie Eve Beauchamp, Michael Shulha, Janique Johnson-Lafleur and Sharon Wood-Dauphinee. “Impact of Research-based Synopses Delivered as Daily E-mail: A Prospective Observational Study.” Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association (2008)15.2: 240-5. Objective – To determine the use and construct validity of a method to assess the cognitive impact of information derived from daily e-mail evidence based summaries (InfoPOEMs), and to describe the self-reported impact of these InfoPOEMs. Design – Prospective, observational study over a period of 150 days employing a questionnaire and rating scale. Setting – This study was conducted via the Internet between September 8, 2006 and February 4, 2007. Subjects – Canadian Medical Association (CMA) members who received InfoPOEMs via e-mail as of September 2006 were invited to participate. For inclusion in the analyses, a participant was defined as a practising family physician or general practitioner who submitted at least five ratings of InfoPOEMS during the study period (n=1,007). Methods – Volunteers completed a demographic questionnaire and provided informed consent online. Each subsequent InfoPOEM delivered included a link to a “ten-item impact assessment scale” (241). Participants checked “all that apply” of descriptive statements such as: My practice was (will be improved); I learned something new; I think this information is potentially harmful. Each combination of selections made was considered a pattern of cognitive impact. College of Family Physicians of Canada received continuing medical education (CME) credit for each InfoPOEM rated. Data were collected by the CMA and forwarded weekly to the investigators who used descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, and multilevel factor analysis to analyze the data. Main Results – 1,007 participants rated an average of 61 InfoPOEMs (ranging from five to 111). A total of 61,493 patterns of cognitive impact were submitted. Eighty-five different patterns were observed, i.e., there were 85 different combinations of the scale’s statements used. Ten patterns accounted for 89.4% of the reports. The top five patterns were: I learned something new (35.2%); No impact (17.1%); This information confirmed I did (will do) the right thing (9.6%); I learned something new AND My practice will be improved (9.4%); and, I was reassured (5.6%). I disagree with this information was checked at least once by 10.3% of the participants, and 8.0% checked I think this information is potentially harmful at least once. Conclusion – The authors applied a cognitive assessment instrument to determine the impact of InfoPOEMs e-mailed to primary care physicians in Canada and found that ten combinations of impact descriptors accounted for 89.4% of the total reports. Most suggested a positive impact on knowledge or practice. Of the total, 17.1% indicated No impact and 1.8% indicated the participant was frustrated as there was not enough information or nothing useful.
Requirements for an Ideal Alcohol Antagonist

There are, in the broadest terms, several types of alcohol antagonists which we can talk about: 1. blockers of tolerance or dependence production 2. blockers of withdrawal symptoms 3. antagonists of alcohol drinking or preference 4. blockers (“reversers”) of acute intoxication, also known as amethystic agents.
O1-S02.04 Evidence of HPV vaccine effectiveness in reducing genital warts: an analysis of California Public Family Planning Administrative Claims Data, 2007–2009

Background The quadrivalent HPV vaccine, available in the US since 2006, is recommended for females age 9–26. This vaccine prevents HPV types 6 and 11, which cause 90% of genital warts (GW). Because of the rapid development of GW after infection, monitoring GW trends may provide early evidence of population level vaccine effectiveness. Methods Trends in GW diagnoses were assessed using clinical encounter claims data from the California Family Planning Access Care and Treatment program which serves low-income females and males. Following implementation of diagnostic coding requirements, reliable data on International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9) codes were available 2007 through 2009. GW cases were defined as unduplicated clients with either an ICD-9 diagnostic code for viral warts (078.10) or condyloma (078.11) or a National Drug Code (NDC) for pharmacy-dispensed imiquimod or podofilox. Inclusion of procedure codes for destruction of genital lesions was unnecessary because these claims closely correlated (>95%) with appropriate ICD-9 codes. Denominators included unduplicated clients served. The proportions of clients with GW were stratified by age ( Results Between 2007 and 2009, an average of over 1 735 000 female and 248 000 male clients were served annually. Total clients served increased each year for both females and males across all age groups, with the greatest increases seen among older age groups. Overall, 0.7% of females and 3.4% of males were diagnosed with GW. Between 2007 and 2009, GW diagnoses declined 19.4% among females less than age 21 (p trend Conclusions This analysis provides preliminary evidence that the HPV vaccine may be preventing GW among young women. Although using existing administrative claims data to assess trends in HPV-related diseases was inexpensive and expeditious, trends are ecological and may be explained by factors other than vaccination.
Origin of Anomalous Activities for Electrocatalysts in Alkaline Electrolytes

Pt extended surfaces and nanoparticle electrodes are used to understand the origin of anomalous activities for electrocatalytic reactions in alkaline electrolytes as a function of cycling/time. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) of the surfaces before and after cycling in alkaline electrolytes was used to understand the morphology of the impurities and their impact on the catalytic sites. The nature of the contaminant species is identified as 3d-transition metal cations, and the formation of hydr(oxy)oxides of these elements is established as the main reason for the observed behavior. We find that, while for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) the blocking of the sites by the undesired 3d-transition metal hydr(oxy)oxide species leads to deactivation of the reaction activities, the CO oxidation reaction and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) can have beneficial effects from the same impurities, the latter being dependent on the exact nature of the adsorbing spe...
Absolute-Density Estimation from Sweep Sampling, with a Comparison of Absolute-Density Sampling Techniques for Adult Potato Leafhoppper in Alfalfa

A study of sampling techniques for adults of Empoasca (abae (Harris) in alfalfa was undertaken to derive ahsolute-density estimates from sweep-net sampling. A comparison of three absolute-density techniques showed that either the D-VacR or a modified EchoR suction device, operated with a small drop trap, yielded accurate estimates upon which the relationship of sweep-net catch and absolute density suhsequently was hased. Large drop trap sampling may be highly influenced by the density and uniformity of the alfalfa stand. Sampling several meters in front of the individual to avoid disturhing potato leafhoppers, compared with sampling immediately in front of the individual, gave no measurable advantage. Sweep-net sampling in fields that had been cleanly harvested yielded precise estimates of absolute density, using the equation x = IX.5y, where x = adult potato leafhoppers per m2 and y = catch per sweep. Distribution of five-sweep samples in cleanly harvested fields followed a Poisson series, and optimum sample size curves were determined. Harvesting of a portion of an alfalfa field altered the spatial distribution of potato leafhopper adults.
Properties of π-Conjugated Fluorescence Polymer–Plasmonic Nanoparticles Hybrid Materials

Recently, great interest has risen in studying and using hybrid material made by mixing polymeric materials with plasmonic nanoparticles. In the present work, the photophysical properties of two poly(p-phenyleneethynylene) fluorescent polymers, varying in chain length, were studied as a function of (1) pure polymer surface compression after deposition from a Langmuir–Blodgett trough onto a substrate and (2) deposition of a constant amount of polymer onto the surface of silver nanocube arrays of varying particle densities. The results are discussed in terms of the surface pressure and nanoparticle topography effects on conformation of the fluorescent polymer. It was found that the short polymer is much less affected by increased surface pressure, remaining isolated from interchain interaction. The long polymer exhibits signs of conjugation breaking, presumably due to compression of its longer, “tangled”, structure. The two polymer chains in the nanoparticle/polymer series of experiments exhibited a blue-sh...
Pulse-Burst PIV Measurements of Transient Phenomena in a Shock Tube

Time-resolved particle image velocimetry (TR-PIV) measurements were made in a shock tube using a pulse-burst laser. Two transient flowfields were investigated including the baseline flow in the empty shock tube and the wake growth downstream of a cylinder spanning the width of the test section. Boundary layer growth was observed following the passage of the incident shock in the baseline flow, while the core flow velocity increased with time. The measured core flow acceleration was compared to that predicted using a classical unsteady boundary layer growth model. The model typically provided good estimates of core flow acceleration at early times, but then typically underestimated the acceleration. As a result of wall boundary layers, a significant amount of spatial non-uniformity remained in the flow following the passage of the end-wall reflected shock, which could be an important factor in combustion chemistry experiments. In the transient wake growth measurements, the wake downstream of the cylinder was symmetric immediately following the passage of the incident shock. At later times (≈ 0.5 ms), the wake transitioned to a von Karman vortex street. The TR-PIV data were bandpass filtered about the vortex shedding frequency to reveal additional details on the transient wake growth.
Motion graphs for unstructured textured meshes

Scanned performances are commonly represented in virtual environments as sequences of textured triangle meshes. Detailed shapes deforming over time benefit from meshes with dynamically evolving connectivity. We analyze these unstructured mesh sequences to automatically synthesize motion graphs with new smooth transitions between compatible poses and actions. Such motion graphs enable natural periodic motions, stochastic playback, and user-directed animations. The main challenge of unstructured sequences is that the meshes differ not only in connectivity but also in alignment, shape, and texture. We introduce new geometry processing techniques to address these problems and demonstrate visually seamless transitions on high-quality captures.
Direct averaging and perturbed test function methods for weak convergence

Perturbed test function methods have been very useful for proving weak convergence of a sequence {xɛ(·)} of processes to a diffusion x(·), under quite weak conditions. The basic ideas are reviewed here. Typically one constructs two small perturbations, the first being a sum (or integral) and the second a double sum (or double integral). If the noise is ‘state-dependent’ and in other tricky cases, it can sometimes be difficult to verify the conditions on the second perturbation. We also discuss a method which ‘averages’ only the first perturbation, and which is often quite easy to use — it does not require construction of the second perturbation. The conditions are often quite easy to verify — even in the complicated ‘state-dependent’ noise case.
Impact of Additives on the Cracking Resistance of Asphalt Mixtures

This paper presents the results of long term investigations that evaluated the impacts of various additives on the resistance of asphalt mixtures to the two types of cracking distresses; fatigue and thermal. Even-though these investigations did not evaluate all additives on the same asphalt mixture and to the same cracking distress, the cracking resistance of asphalt mixtures with and without each type of additive are compared within the same asphalt mixture. Resistance to fatigue and thermal cracking were evaluated using flexural beam fatigue and uniaxial thermal stress and strain test (UTSST), respectively. Since cracking is a problem occurring in the latter part of pavement life, all asphalt mixtures were subjected to long-term oven aging prior to performance testing. The analysis of the data generated from this extensive study indicates that the cracking resistance of AC mixtures is impacted by several factors, including: aggregate absorption, type of WMA additive, asphalt binder modification process, and anti-strip additive.
Nicaragua: The Cold War Comes to This Hemisphere

One of the most difficult problems the Reagan administration and its neocon advisers faced in the heightened confrontation with the Soviets was the situation in Central America. Here the issues of human rights, articulated so eloquently by Moynihan and Kirkpatrick at the UN and in other forums, collided with the need to counter Soviet influence in the United States' backyard in Central and Latin America. The Soviets, in fact, had become interested in opening a new front in the Cold War by supporting leftist insurgencies in this part of the world. There is some dispute among the authorities I have consulted as to when this new strategy took concrete form. According to Peter Schweizer, a fellow at the Hoover Institution of War and Peace at Stanford University, who has had access to KGB files, the Soviets began to provide financial support and weapons to a guerrilla army, the Sandinista Liberation Front (FSLN), which was waging a decade-old war against the bitterly hated Somoza regime in Nicaragua, as early as 1966. While some people in the West viewed the Sandinistas, a coalition of groups with different ideologies, as a democratic ally in overthrowing a widely acknowledged reactionary regime, the Soviets, Schweizer asserts, looked upon them as a vehicle for penetration into this hemisphere. The Soviet Union wanted not only to overthrow the Somoza regime but also to install in its place the Sandinistas, led by Marxist-Leninists, Daniel Ortega and his brother Humberto.
The Press Gang: Corruption and the Independent Press in the Grant Era

The enhanced power of the American press after the Civil War dramatically altered the relationship between newsmen and politicians. Not only did it enhance the latter's power to shape coverage; it permitted the former to manufacture news and issues as never before. And manufacture it they did–sometimes out of the whole cloth, sometimes out of a tissue of circumstantial and misleading allegation. Out of reporters' new diligence and sense of their own craft, out of editors' sense of hubris at their new influence came a readiness to suspect the worst of officials, and to print it. Out of the newsmen's new-found emphasis on political corruption emerged an adversarial relationship with lawmakers and Presidents which undermined public confidence in the probity, even the competence, of elected officials. The power of the "press gang" helped create an exaggerated impression of the postwar years as corrupt without parallel. It is an impression that persists in part because historians have taken the press at too ne...
Calculation of the Φ-Ψ maps for alanyl and glycyl dipeptides with different additive and non-additive molecular mechanical models

Les energies conformationelles des dipeptides glycine et alanine sont calculees en mecanique moleculaire en utilisant quatre champs de force differents : 1) le modele additif de Cornell et alii, les parametres correspondant aux diedres Φ et ψ etant fixes a 0; 2) le modele additif de Cornell et alii non modifie; 3) une version modifiee de 2) dans laquelle les parametres des diedres Φ et ψ ont ete optimises pour correspondre aux energies du tetrapeptide alanine en conformation helicoidale (α R ) ou en conformation β, ces energies etant calculees par une methode ab initio et 4) une variation non additive de 1) incluant un terme de polarisation centre sur les atomes. Les resultats pour chacun des quatre champs de force et pour chacune des conformations de basse energie des dipeptides glycine et alanine sont compares a ceux obtenus par la methode ab initio. De plus les cartes d'energie en fonction des angles Φ et ψ sont calculees pour chacun des quatre modeles et sont comparees entre-elles.
Modeling Cortisol Daily Rhythms of Family Caregivers of Individuals With Dementia: Daily Stressors and Adult Day Services Use

Objectives The study examined the typical diurnal cortisol trajectory and its differential associations with an intervention, the adult day services (ADS) use, among a sample of family caregivers who experienced high levels of daily stress. Method On hundred and sixty-five caregivers of individuals with dementia completed an 8-day diary on daily stressors, positive events, sleep quality, and ADS use. The caregivers also provided five saliva samples on each diary day. Daily cortisol trajectories were modeled as a function of time elapsed since awakening, and three spline growth curve models were fit to the cortisol data. Based on the best-fitting linear spline model, the effect of daily ADS use was examined at both daily and person levels. Covariates included daily experiences and other caregiving characteristics. Results On ADS days, caregivers had a steeper cortisol awakening response (CAR) slope and a steeper morning decline. ADS use remained significant after controlling for covariates at both daily and person levels. Discussion The findings suggested potential biophysiological benefits of daily ADS use for a sample that was under chronic stress and high levels of daily stress.
Teaching Diversity: The Science You Need to Know to Explain Why Race Is Not Biological

This article is targeted to faculty teaching race and ethnicity, racism, diversity, and multicultural courses. Many students equate race with skin color. The premise of this article is that to teach students about the social construction of race, teachers must first know enough science to teach students that race is not biological. This article examines the biology of race by showing how advances in DNA sequencing led to genetics research that supports arguments that race is not biological. DNA comparisons show that all human populations living today are one species that came from Africa. The article explains the migration of humans out of Africa about 60,000 years ago and how they populated Australia, then Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The article shows how recent research maps the timing of the migration and admixture of specific population groups into Europe and India. The article shows how a mutation in one nucleotide can result in a trait like blue eyes, or Hemoglobin S (which confers resistance to...
A Phase II Study of Dasatinib in Relapsed and Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL/SLL).

Preclinical studies have shown that proliferation and survival of CLL cells are associated with overexpression of the Lyn kinase protein, and in vitro inhibition of Lyn kinase leads to apoptosis of the CLL cells (Contri, J Clin Invest 2005). Because dasatinib inhibits Lyn kinase in CML cells at doses easily achievable in patients, we undertook this phase II study of dasatinib in patients with previously treated CLL/SLL. Patients were required to be over 18 years of age, have a diagnosis of CLL/SLL by flow cytometry/immunostains, and have failed at least 1 course of treatment with a fludarabine-containing regimen or at least 2 courses of non-fludarabine containing regimens. The starting dose of dasatinib was 140 mg daily by mouth. This dose could be reduced to 100 mg or 80 mg daily for toxicity. At baseline all patients had bone marrow biopsies and CT scans, and these were repeated at 2 months. Sequential blood and bone marrow samples were tested for Lyn kinase activity. The design of the study provided for 2 phases such that if 3 responses were seen among the first 15 patients, the trial would expand to enroll another 20 patients. Among the first 9 patients enrolled there were 4 male and 5 female subjects with a median age of 59 years (40–78 years). ECOG performance status was 0 in 4 subjects, 1 in 3, and 2 in 2 subjects. All patients had previously received fludarabine: 1 subject had 1 prior treatment, 3 had 2 prior treatments, 3 had 3 prior treatments, and 2 had 4 prior treatments. By cytogenetic/FISH analysis there were 2 patients with del(17p) and another 4 patients with del(11q). All patients required treatment by NCI Working Group criteria. The major toxicity encountered was myelosuppression: grade 3 + 4 neutropenia in 7 subjects, grade 3 + 4 thrombocytopenia in 5 subjects. Gastrointestinal toxicity was minor with only 1 subject experiencing grade 3 diarrhea. One subject developed a grade 2 pleural effusion. There was 1 patient with an electrolyte imbalance consisting of a transient serum K=6.8, and in 1 patient there was a transiently prolonged QTc of 516 ms. There were no fatal events, and all toxicities were reversible. The median duration of treatment on study was 9 weeks with a range of 4 to 23 weeks. The clinical response data of the first 15 patients will be presented along with the correlative studies of Lyn kinase inhibition by dasatinib.
Matriarchal Might: “4000 Miles” of Feminine Perseverance, Wisdom, and Strength

Perseverance, wisdom and strength: all very similar words, but with enough differences to shape an individual. How does the theatre treat a wise, strong matriarch who perseveres against hardship? How can things, such as strength be measured? In both brawny, physical stature and quiet confidence? And can such stereotypically masculine ideals be easily translated to a feminism outlook with an octogenarian woman as the figurehead, especially in a world where discrimination is not solely based on race/class/religion/ethnicity, but also age as well? These complex and occasionally seemingly unanswerable questions are the tools that will be used to answer and uncover the feminist meanings in Amy Herzog’s “4000 Miles”.
Abstract 1670: Identification and characterization of novel mediators of tumor-induced T-cell dysfunction

Immunotherapies targeting T-cell functionality have been shown to have efficacy in numerous cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, treatment with currently available therapeutics, such as anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4, induce responses only in a subset of patients. This raises the possibility that numerous other effectors of T-cell dysfunction remain to be elucidated. To evaluate possible novel mediators of T-cell dysfunction, we isolated CD8+ T-cells from orthotopic KrasG12D/p53-/- murine lung adenocarcinomas (HKP-1) that exhibited either stable or progressive disease as a function of tumor growth. RNAseq analysis revealed increased expression of several genes including Tim3, PD-1, Lag3, 2B4, and CISH, and decreased expression of GzmB and Eomes in CD8+ T-cells isolated from progressive tumors indicative of a dysfunctional state, as well as multiple novel genes not previously associated with T-cell dysfunction. To explore the functional role of the novel candidate genes, we have developed in vitro and in vivo assays leveraging Ova and GFP overexpression in our HKP-1 cell line (KP1-Ova-GFP). We have begun to target these unique set of candidate genes in tumor-specific T-cells associated with dysfunction through innovative RNAi/shRNA and adoptive transfer approaches to facilitate therapeutic reprogramming and enhanced T-cell-mediated immunity in lung cancer. We expect to provide novel strategies for designing rational immunotherapies targeting dysfunctional tumor-specific CD8+ T-cells to generate durable anti-tumor immune responses for the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma. Citation Format: Geoffrey J. Markowitz, Mary Philip, Andrea Schietinger, Vivek Mittal. Identification and characterization of novel mediators of tumor-induced T-cell dysfunction [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1670. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1670
Mystery Case: A 48-year-old woman with bizarre behavior, neurologic symptoms, and progressive decline

A 48-year-old woman with an alcohol use disorder presented with a subacute onset of altered mental status. Two months prior to presentation, the patient recreationally used morphine, oxycodone, and heroin over the span of 1 week. At the end of this 7-day period, she experienced an episode of lethargy for approximately 24 hours and continued to be difficult to arouse during the following 2 days; however, she did not seek medical attention. She returned to her baseline functional status and remained asymptomatic until 3 weeks later, when she fell and hit her head, initially resulting in a headache. One day later, she began exhibiting bizarre behavior that gradually increased in severity over the following month. She began by sleeping with a recently deceased relative’s ashes and emotional labiality and progressed to brushing her teeth with a comb, showering while dressed, undressing and then going outside, and not recognizing family members. Her husband brought her to the hospital for further evaluation.
Ecología y conservación de las aves asociadas con Polylepis: ¿qué sabemos de esta comunidad cada vez más vulnerable?

A lo largo de las montanas de Sudamerica, los bosques de Polylepis y la comunidad de aves que albergan sobresalen como uno de los ecosistemas de mayor prioridad de conservacion. Estos bosques forman uno de los limites arboreos mas altos del mundo y son centros de diversidad y de endemismo biologico. Sin embargo, sus diferentes caracteristicas ecologicas y las presiones de los seres humanos los hacen cada vez mas vulnerables a la degradacion y a los futuros cambios climaticos. Realizamos una revision del estado del conocimiento de las diversas especies de aves asociadas con Polylepis a fin de guiar los esfuerzos para su conservacion. Varias publicaciones sugieren que la funcion de los ecosistemas de Polylepis como habitat para las aves esta influenciada por su distribucion continental y por factores locales y de paisaje, incluyendo las actividades humanas y las perturbaciones. Identificamos 29 areas de prioridad para la conservacion de Polylepis a lo largo de toda su distribucion, que en conjunto mantienen 44 especies de aves endemicas, amenazadas o con alto grado de asociacion con los bosques de Polylepis . Segun la lista de aves amenazadas de la IUCN, dos especies estan categorizadas en estado critico, 8 en peligro, 8 vulnerables y 9 como casi amenazadas. Ademas, 70% de estas especies (31) poseen rangos de distribucion restringida, y son endemicas a un solo pais, mientras que 52% (23) poseen un alto o mediano grado de asociacion con los bosques de Polylepis . Las recomendaciones de diversos estudios coinciden en que aumentar la conectividad entre parches y la permeabilidad de la matriz, y reducir la erosion, la quema y la ganaderia contribuirian a mejorar la conservacion y la recuperacion de los ecosistemas de Polylepis y de las aves que en ella habitan. https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.18.28.1.1.519
Deine Seele ist Gemein-Gut

Ein groser Geburtstag wurde gefeiert. Viele, viele kamen. Ein Rausch der Freude. Das Fest fand mit Kapelle in einem Gemeindezentrum statt. Es gab turkisches und arabisches Buffet. Alle larmten und tranken und schwatzten.
Adaptive Adjacency Kanerva Coding for Memory-Constrained Reinforcement Learning

When encountering continuous, or very large domains, using a compact representation of the state space is preferable for practical reinforcement learning (RL). This approach can reduce the size of the state space and enable generalization by relating similar or neighboring states. However, many state abstraction techniques cannot achieve satisfactory approximation quality in the presence of limited memory resources, while expert state space shaping can be costly and usually does not scale well. We have investigated the principle of Sparse Distributed Memories (SDMs) and applied it as a function approximator to learn good policies for RL. This paper describes a new approach, adaptive adjacency in SDMs, that is capable of representing very large continuous state spaces with a very small collection of prototype states. This algorithm enhances an SDMs architecture to allow on-line, dynamically-adjusting generalization to assigned memory resources to provide high-quality approximation. The memory size and memory allocation no longer need to be manually assigned before and during RL. Based on our results, this approach performs well both in terms of approximation quality and memory usage. The superior performance of this approach over existing SDMs and tile coding (CMACs) is demonstrated through a comprehensive simulation study in two classic domains, Mountain Car with 2 dimensions and Hunter-Prey with 5 dimensions. Our empirical evaluations demonstrate that the adaptive adjacency approach can be used to efficiently approximate value functions with limited memories, and that the approach scales well across tested domains with continuous, large-scale state spaces.
Philippe de La Hire at the Court of Jayasiṃha

In 1727 Jayasiṃha, the Mahārāja of a Rajput state which lies about 150 miles South Southwest of Delhi, took two important steps in his eventful career.1 He founded his new capital a few miles from Amber, its predecessor, naming it Jayanagara or Jayapura, and he sent a Jesuit missionary, Father Manuel de Figueredo, along with several others to Portugal to obtain for him astronomical books and instruments, and a skilled astronomer.2 In November of 1730 Father Manuel returned, to the new city of Jayapura, with the items Jayasiṃha had requested. Though we are nowhere informed of what instruments were brought back from Europe, the books included the 1727 Paris reprint of Philippe de La Hire’s Tabulae astronomicae; 3 and the “skilled” astronomer selected by the Portuguese was the young Pedro da Silva, who had studied astronomy in Portugal under J. B. Carbone, who was using de La Hire’s tables in the 1720’s.4
Evaluation of pyrazoloacridine in patients with advanced pancreatic carcinoma

Purpose: Pyrazoloacridine (PZA) is an acridine derivative selected for clinical development because of broad preclinical antitumor activity and solid tumor selectivity. Phase I evaluations with PZA have demonstrated predictable toxicity and suggested clinical efficacy. A phase II trial in patients with previously untreated advanced pancreatic cancer was conducted. Methods: PZA was administered at a dose of 750 mg/m2 intravenously over 3 hours every 21 days. Seventeen patients were treated receiving a total of 46 courses of PZA. Results: Of the 15 patients evaluable for response, no responses were observed (0% response rate, 95% confidence interval 0–22%). Major toxicities directly attributable to PZA included moderate neutropenia and mild neurotoxicity. Conclusion: PZA at this dose and schedule of administration was inactive in patients with pancreatic carcinoma.
Chronic opioid use and clinical outcomes in lung transplant recipients: A single‐center cohort study

INTRODUCTION Chronic opioid use is common after organ transplantation, and has been associated with poor outcomes in transplantation of abdominal organs. However, little is known about possible influences of chronic opioid use on outcomes of lung transplantation (LTx). OBJECTIVES We assessed whether long-term chronic opioid use influenced clinical outcomes among LTx recipients at our program. METHODS We retrospectively evaluated chronic opioid use among bilateral LTx recipients ages 12 and older followed at our institution 1-5 years post-transplant. Chronic opioid use was defined as ≥3 months of consecutive prescribed use. Outcomes included survival, hospitalization, emergency department and urgent care visits, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and allograft rejection. RESULTS Twenty-one patients ages 15-50 years met inclusion criteria. On multivariable analysis, initiation of chronic opioid use was followed by increased mortality hazard (hazard ratio=7.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1, 45.0, P = 0.037) and decreased FEV1 (-16%; 95% CI: -24%, -7%; P < 0.001), although no differences were observed in risk of acute care visits, inpatient admission, or chronic rejection. CONCLUSION This analysis presents the first evidence that late-onset chronic opioid use may be associated with decreased lung function and increased mortality after LTx. Therefore, evaluation of chronic opioid use should be included in the routine monitoring of transplant recipients, to better define the impact of this risk factor on LTx outcomes.
A phase II study of temsirolimus and liposomal doxorubicin for patients with recurrent and refractory bone and soft tissue sarcomas

Relapsed and refractory sarcomas continue to have poor survival rates. The cancer stem cell (CSC) theory provides a tractable explanation for the observation that recurrences occur despite dramatic responses to upfront chemotherapy. Preclinical studies demonstrated that inhibition of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) sensitizes the CSC population to chemotherapy. Here we present the results of the Phase II portion of a Phase I/II clinical trial that aimed to overcome the chemoresistance of sarcoma CSC by combining the mTOR inhibitor temsirolimus (20 mg/m2 weekly) with the chemotherapeutic agent liposomal doxorubicin (30 mg/m2 monthly). Fifteen patients with relapsed/refractory sarcoma were evaluable at this recommended Phase 2 dose level. The median progression free survival was 315 days (range 27–799). Response rate, defined as stable disease or better for 60 days, was 53%. Nine of the patients had been previously treated with doxorubicin. Therapy was well tolerated. In a small number of patients, pre- and post- treatment tumor biopsies were available for assessment of ALDH expression as a marker of CSCs and showed a correlation between response and decreased ALDH expression. We also found a correlation between biopsy-proven inhibition of mTOR and response. Our study adds to the literature supporting the addition of mTOR inhibition to chemotherapy agents for the treatment of sarcomas, and proposes that a mechanism by which mTOR inhibition enhances the efficacy of chemotherapy may be through sensitizing the chemoresistant CSC population. Further study, ideally with pre- and post-therapy assessment of ALDH expression in tumor cells, is warranted. Trial registration The trial was registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00949325) on 30 July 2009. http://www.editorialmanager.com/csrj/default.aspx
Endoscopic Management of Lacrimal System Dysgenesis and Dacryocystoceles in Fraser Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review:

BackgroundFraser syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized primarily by syndactyly, cryptophthalmos, urinary tract anomalies, ambiguous genitalia, and laryngeal anomalies. A 28-year...
The farmer's climate change adaptation challenge in least developed countries

Abstract Climate change poses many new risks to people in the developing world. Unlike in standard choice under uncertainty problems, the risks from climate change are both ambiguous and non-stationary. We examine climate projections concerning what scenarios are most likely to unfold. We explore how individual farmers in the developing world are likely to respond to these challenges. This analysis points out data gaps and valuable future research paths. Urbanization offers one possible adaptation channel. We explore the opportunities and challenges posed by climate change induced accelerated Least Developed Country (LDC) urbanization.
Lessons Learned from the Field: Teaching in High-risk Physical Education Environments

According to the U.S. Department of Education, a child is considered “at risk” if they receive low academic achievement scores, are at risk of dropping out of school, have little support from paren...
Innovative method for cover crop termination using engine exhaust heat

Proper management of cover crops in conservation system is the key to achieving effective no-till planting of cash crops into desiccated residue cover without interfering with planting operations. One method of cover crop management is mechanical termination utilizing a rolling/crimping technique to injure the plant with the crimping bars without cutting stems. Another method is to injure plants using a heat source. To evaluate this concept at a small farm scale, a mechanical pusher using exhaust heat from the internal combustion gasoline engine with supplemental heat from heater strips was developed to terminate cover crops. The prototype was developed for a walk-behind tractor powered by a single cylinder gasoline engine. Heat to damage plant tissue was directed from the exhaust manifold to a rectangular perforated delivery steel tube that was in continuous contact with the cover crop that had been flattened by the pusher. In addition, a generator powered by the tractor’s PTO provided electrical energy for three parallel supplemental heater strips. Results demonstrated that using exhaust heat (otherwise lost to the environment) is a viable option to manage cover crops.
An approach to teaching my son about biblical manhood

ABSTRACTIn the current American context, societal norms and constructs of masculinity are evolving and becoming more flexible; thus, there has been an increased effort to define masculinity. Multip...
Absence of left bundle branch block and blood urea nitrogen predict improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with cardiomyopathy and wearable cardioverter defibrillators.

OBJECTIVE To identify predictors of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improvement in patients with newly detected cardiomyopathy using wearable cardioverter defibrillators (WCDs). BACKGROUND WCDs are useful in preventing sudden cardiac death in patients with reduced LVEF <35% while awaiting implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) placement. In many patients, LVEF improves and an ICD is not indicated. METHODS Patients who received WCDs from November 2013 to November 2015 were identified and followed over a period of 2 years. Clinical variables were examined. The primary outcome was improvement in LVEF ≥35%. Predictors of outcome were determined using a multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS A total of 179 patients were followed. Median age was 65 (interquartile range [IQR]: 56, 73) years, 69.3% were men. Median baseline LVEF was 20% (IQR: 15, 30). LVEF improved ≥35% in 47.5% patients, with patients being younger (62 vs 68.5 years, P = .006), having lower blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (19 vs 24 mg/dL, P = .002), fewer left bundle branch block (LBBB 9.5% vs 25.8%, P = .004), shorter QRS duration (98 vs 112 ms, P < .001), and higher use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) (92.9% vs 74.4%, P = .001) compared to those without LVEF improvement. Absence of LBBB (odds ratio [OR] 0.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.11-0.70), lower BUN (OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.02-0.76), and ACEI/ARB use (OR 3.53, 95% CI 1.28-9.69) were identified as independent predictors. Ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation was observed in three patients, all of whom received successful WCD shocks. CONCLUSION Absence of LBBB, lower BUN, and ACEI/ARB use predicts LVEF improvement. WCDs help treat arrhythmic events.
Estrogen-dependent hypersensitivity to diabetes-evoked cardiac autonomic dysregulation: Role of hypothalamic neuroinflammation.

Abstract Aims To investigate if autonomic dysregulation is exacerbated in female rats, subjected to diabetes mellitus (DM), via a paradoxical estrogen (E2)-evoked provocation of neuroinflammation/injury of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Main methods We measured cardiac autonomic function and conducted subsequent PVN neurochemical studies, in DM rats, and their respective controls, divided as follows: male, sham operated (SO), ovariectomized (OVX), and OVX with E2 supplementation (OVX/E2). Key findings Autonomic dysregulation, expressed as sympathetic dominance (higher low frequency, LF, band), only occurred in DM E2-replete (SO and OVX/E2) rats, and was associated with higher neuronal activity (c-Fos) and higher levels of TNFα and phosphorylated death associated protein kinase-3 (p-DAPK3) in the PVN. These proinflammatory molecules likely contributed to the heightened PVN oxidative stress, injury and apoptosis. The PVN of these E2-replete DM rats also exhibited upregulations of estrogen receptors, ERα and ERβ, and proinflammatory adenosine A1 and A2a receptors. Significance The E2-dependent autonomic dysregulation likely predisposes DM female rats and women to hypersensitivity to cardiac dysfunction. Further, upregulations of proinflammatory mediators including adenosine A1 and A2 receptors, TNFα and DAPK3, conceivably explain the paradoxical hypersensitivity of DM females to PVN inflammation/injury and the subsequent autonomic dysregulation in the presence of E2.
Operational Distortion: Compound Effects of Short-termism and Competition

Practitioners and academics alike have argued that a firm's interest in its short-term capital market valuation (short-termism) is harmful to the firm's long-term profit. Their argument is intuitive -- when a firm exhibits short-termism, its decision making will cater to the short-term at the expense of the long-term. Some practitioners claim that the adverse effects of increased short-termism become particularly acute in competitive markets. However, there is little academic research that examines the compound effect of short-termism and competition on a firm's operational choices and long-term profit. In this paper, we provide a rigorous analytical model to examine how short-termism and competition can interact to induce a firm to distort its capacity investment and affect its long-term profit. We model a firm that has private information about its market demand, which can be either high or low and is captured by the firm's type. Signaling this private information can influence both the investor's valuation and the competitor's entry decision. We find that operational distortion can emerge not only when short-termism is large, but also when it is small. In fact, when short-termism is sufficiently small, both firm types will distort their operational decision by under-investing in a pooling outcome. We show, however, that the impact of short-termism on a firm's long-term profit is not monotonically negative, and a certain level of short-termism can be beneficial to a firm's long-term profit. The positive impact of incremental short-termism is robust to alternative modeling assumptions, including the form of competition and the investor's risk profile.