cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inequality and Personal Income Taxation The Origins and Effects of Legislative Malapportionment

Why does personal income taxation (PIT) remain relatively low in many developing countries despite a period of democratic advancement and rapid economic growth? This stylized fact is hard to reconcile with standard political economy models of taxation that expect democratic regimes to bring about redistribution in countries that suffer from high inequality. This article argues that the details of political institutions are key to understand why PIT remains low in many developing and unequal countries. In particular, we show how legislative malapportionment may prevent the use of personal income taxes as a major revenue source by skewing the distribution of political power across groups. Malapportionment is usually not exogenous but the result of design by those with political power at the transition or reform moment. As such, it depends on the structure of political and economic power in society. Based on a sample of more than 50 countries between 1990 and 2007, this article finds that (a) countries with ...
Life cycle analysis of plastics for packaging: PVC and PET

Production is the dominant driver of environmental impact in PVC and PET life cycles. In the baseline scenario, the impacts of PET exceeded PVC across all impact categories, though there was overlap. In the regional sensitivity analysis, US production of PVC exceeded EU for all impacts, while EU production of PET exceeded US for all impacts except human health. The US's higher PVC impacts may be due to the US's coal-intensive electricity grid and to the associated sulfur dioxide from coal plants. The EoL sensitivity revealed that the impacts of PVC incineration exceeded those of landfilled PVC and PET EoL. This work has also attempted to understand the uncertainty associated with plastic EoL because it is a frequent topic of consideration in packaging material selection decisions. EoL issues evaluated include efficiency of incinerators, landfill liner quality, and rate of degradation in landfill, estimated to be 0–1% for PVC and PET [5]. PLA and biodegradable plastics may be a viable option if conditions for decomposition exist in landfills. Value judgments will need to be made, such as the tradeoff between bunkering carbon in a landfill versus carbon and methane emissions to the atmosphere through incineration and composting, respectively.
What does it mean to "employ" the RE-AIM model?

Many grant proposals identify the use of a given evaluation model or framework but offer little about how such models are implemented. The authors discuss what it means to employ a specific model, RE-AIM, and key dimensions from this model for program planning, implementation, evaluation, and reporting. The authors report both conceptual and content specifications for the use of the RE-AIM model and a content review of 42 recent dissemination and implementation grant applications to National Institutes of Health that proposed the use of this model. Outcomes include the extent to which proposals addressed the overall RE-AIM model and specific items within the five dimensions in their methods or evaluation plans. The majority of grants used only some elements of the model (less than 10% contained thorough measures across all RE-AIM dimensions). Few met criteria for “fully developed use” of RE-AIM and the percentage of key issues addressed varied from, on average, 45% to 78% across the RE-AIM dimensions. The...
Using PVsolve to Analyze and Locate Positions of Parallel Vectors

A new method for finding the locus of parallel vectors is presented, called PVsolve. A parallel-vector operator has been proposed as a visualization primitive, as several features can be expressed as the locus of points where two vector fields are parallel. Several applications of the idea have been reported, so accurate and efficient location of such points is an important problem. Previously published methods derive a tangent direction under the assumption that the two vector fields are parallel at the current point in space, then extend in that direction to a new point. PVsolve includes additional terms to allow for the fact that the two vector fields may not be parallel at the current point, and uses a root-finding approach. Mathematical analysis sheds new light on the feature flow field technique (FFF) as well. The root-finding property allows PVsolve to use larger step sizes for tracing parallel-vector curves, compared to previous methods, and does not rely on sophisticated differential equation techniques for accuracy. Experiments are reported on fluid flow simulations, comparing FFF and PVsolve.
The average backscattering cross section of clouds of randomized resonant dipoles

The average backscattering cross section of clouds of linear metallic dipoles of resonant length and random orientation is investigated. The effects of mutual coupling among dipoles is included in the analysis by use of computer techniques currently available or being developed. Average backscattering cross sections are Presented for random clouds containing up to 200 dipoles with average spacings from 0.5\lambda to 2.0\lambda . Results show that coupling is insignificant at the largest spacings but causes a 2-3-dB degradation in average echo area at the smallest spacings.
Transpopliteal removal of an OptEase inferior vena cava filter after treatment of symptomatic filter thrombosis.

Purpose To describe a case of transpopliteal retrieval of an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter. Case report A paraplegic patient had an IVC filter placed for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) after anticoagulant therapy was stopped. Two weeks later, he developed massive scrotal and bilateral lower extremity swelling due to iliocaval thrombosis, which was treated by power pulse-spray thrombectomy and catheter-directed thrombolytic infusion via bilateral popliteal approaches. Following successful thrombus removal, the filter was uniquely retrieved via the right popliteal access; the patient was discharged on warfarin anticoagulation. Conclusion Transpopliteal IVC filter retrieval is feasible and may be a useful alternative technique in selected instances.
Bayesian and frequentist predictive inference for the patterns of care studies

Abstract The Patterns of Care Studies were conducted to determine the quality of care received by cancer patients whose primary treatment modality is radiation therapy. In this article, we propose and evaluate models which, if acceptable, permit Bayesian and frequentist model-based predictive inference for the desired finite population parameters. Using both hierarchical Bayesian and frequentist mixed linear models, we describe methodology for making the desired inferences, emphasizing the use of transformed random variables. Finally, we compare the frequentist, Bayes, and empirical Bayes approaches using data from one of the surveys. All three methods produce essentially the same value for the (finite population) mean. The standard empirical Bayes and frequentist measures of variability are very much smaller than those derived from the Bayesian approach, the latter reflecting uncertainty about the values of the scale parameters in the model.
Acid hydrolysis of dissolved combined amino acids in seawater: A precautionary note1

Hydrolyses of dissolved combined amino acids in seawater with 6 N HCl result in oxidative degradation of α-amino acids when seawater nitrate concentrations exceed 6 ± 2 µmol liter−1. The addition of excess ascorbic acid before hydrolysis prevents these oxidative reactions.
CONTROL OF PROGRESSIVE FAILURE IN COMPOSITE LAMINATES: CHARACTERISTIC FAILURE SIGNATURES

Structural designs for composite laminated systems can be optimized for a fail-safe in-service performance by introducing the built-in cumulative-damageindicators for the progressive degradation of material properties. This design methodology is based on the concepts of the characteristic failure signature (CFS), the cumulative-damage-states and a load drop sequence that characterize the progressive accumulation of damage. The cumulative damage mechanics is based on the 3D laminate analysis that is used to predict a nonlinear stress/strain response, accumulation of damage and failure behavior. The nonlinear analysis involves an incremental formulation that couples the 3D laminate analysis with a progressive ply-failure methodology. The failure signatures are shown to have unique “safety features” that depend on the ply stacking sequence and predominant loading. A quantitative description of the failure process is provided by the corresponding load-drop sequence. Various examples of failure envelopes, characteristic failure signatures, a new safety criterion and the “safe CFSs” that lead to the desired controlled failures are discussed for anisotropic laminates. The safety criterion may serve as a basis for the structural safety requirements.
Wife Abuse among Families Attending a Child Psychiatry Clinic

Abstract The parents of 122 boys attending a child psychiatric clinic were interviewed about their own life histories and psychiatric symptoms. Forty-one percent of the mothers reported being physically abused by the fathers. The abuse was related to lower socioeconomic status, to fathers' antisocial personalities or alcoholism, to mothers' neurotic disorders, to the boys' conduct disorders, and to child abuse. More abused mothers than nonabused had histories of conduct problems in childhood, had had illegitimate children, had left school early and married early; more abusing fathers than nonabusing had had earlier conduct disorders. Assortative marrying of antisocial young men with antisocial young women seemed to predispose couples to physical conflict. We conclude that, in this population, wife abuse was associated with deviance in perpetrator and victim and suggest that antisocial tendencies in the husband may be the primary cause of wife abuse.
Hypoglycemia counterregulation in elderly humans: relationship to glucose levels.

This study was designed to define the effect of human aging on hypoglycemia counterregulatory mechanisms. A hyperinsulinemic (2 mU.kg-1.min-1) glucose clamp procedure was used to control glucose and insulin levels during stepwise lowering of plasma glucose. Counterregulatory hormones, hepatic glucose production (HGP), glucose utilization, and symptoms of hypoglycemia were studied in 13 healthy young [age 24 +/- 1 (SE) yr] and 11 healthy old (age 65 +/- 1 yr) nondiabetic volunteers on two occasions: 1) at matched euglycemia and 70 and 60 mg/dl (study 1) and 2) at matched euglycemia and 60 and 50 mg/dl (study 2). The old had consistently lower epinephrine (P < 0.005), glucagon (P < 0.02), cortisol (P < 0.05), and pancreatic polypeptide (P < 0.02) responses at the 60-mg/dl glucose step in study 1. However, these differences were no longer detectable at the more severe hypoglycemic stimulus of 50 mg/dl in study 2. A consistent increase in HGP occurred in both groups only at the 50-mg/dl glucose step (study 2) and was not different between young and old. There were also no differences in symptom responses between young and old. In summary, we found that elderly individuals have a subtle impairment of the glucose counterregulatory response during moderate hypoglycemia, but this impairment is no longer detectable during more severe hypoglycemia.
Experimental study of electrohydrodynamically augmented condensation heat transfer

A vertical single tube condenser is built to investigate electrohydrodynamically enhanced condensation heat transfer both qualitatively and quantitatively. R-113 is used as the working fluid. Based on visual observation for various sample electrode configurations the electrode design is optimized with respect to the amount of liquid extracted from the condensation surface. Heat transfer results are presented for the optimum electrode design. The overall heat transfer conductance value of the condenser is enhanced by up to 19% by realizing the liquid extraction phenomenon. This enhancement is significant since it was obtained by changing only the condensation heat transfer coefficient. The necessary electric power input is found to be negligible representing less than 0.004% of the exchanged heat. >
Continuous Flow Microfluidic Bioparticle Concentrator

Innovative microfluidic technology has enabled massively parallelized and extremely efficient biological and clinical assays. Many biological applications developed and executed with traditional bulk processing techniques have been translated and streamlined through microfluidic processing with the notable exception of sample volume reduction or centrifugation, one of the most widely utilized processes in the biological sciences. We utilize the high-speed phenomenon known as inertial focusing combined with hydraulic resistance controlled multiplexed micro-siphoning allowing for the continuous concentration of suspended cells into pre-determined volumes up to more than 400 times smaller than the input with a yield routinely above 95% at a throughput of 240 ml/hour. Highlighted applications are presented for how the technology can be successfully used for live animal imaging studies, in a system to increase the efficient use of small clinical samples and finally, as a means of macro-to-micro interfacing allowing large samples to be directly coupled to a variety of powerful microfluidic technologies.
On the geometry of multiplication and division of several phasors

A simple geometrical construction is given for the multiplication and division of several phasors.
Synchronous clocking schemes for large VLSI systems

Recently a novel clock distribution scheme called branch-and-combine (BaC) has been proposed. The scheme guarantees constant skew bound irrespective of the size of the clocked network. It utilizes simple nodes to process clock signals. The paper uses a VLSI model to compare the properties of the new scheme to those of the well established H-tree approach. Our study considers clocking 2-D processor meshes of arbitrary sizes. We evaluate and compare the relevant parameters of both schemes in a VLSI layout context. We show that for each BaC network, there is a certain threshold size after which it outperforms the corresponding tree network. We utilize parameters such as clock skew, link costs, node costs and area efficiency as the basis for comparison. >
An investigation of personality similarity effects (relational and perceived) on peer and supervisor ratings and the role of familiarity and liking

We examined the effect of similarity on performance ratings in two data sets (peers and supervisors). Surprisingly, there was minimal support for a relationship between relational personality (i.e. actual similarity on dimensions of the Five-Factor Model of personality relevant for sales positions - extraversion, conscientiousness, and emotional stability) and performance ratings in either data set. However, perceived similarity in these same dimensions related strongly to performance ratings. Furthermore, the results indicated no support for interpersonal familiarity as a moderator of the relationship between relational personality and perceived personality similarity. Finally, results provided moderate support for liking as a mediator of the perceived personality similarity-performance rating relationship. Implications of the results for future research and practice are discussed.
Delirium: The 21st century health care challenge for bedside clinicians

Delirium is a leading cause of preventable injury in hospitalized patients. Early recognition and intervention for delirium are critical to prevent morbidity and mortality, especially in the older population. Older patients are at increased risk for delirium owing to a combination of age-related changes and environmental factors. Health care providers, including nurses and physicians, often miss delirium symptoms and diagnosis in patients. Without early recognition and treatment, delirium can have significant life-changing consequences in our most vulnerable patients. This acute change in cognition can continue throughout the hospital course and may require additional rehabilitation or placement, delaying transition to home. As the baby boomers age, the older population is expected to increase, with significant implications for health care. With this in mind, the health care team, including frontline caregivers, need to be well informed about delirium. This article will expand readers’ knowledge and familiarity with delirium with the purpose of improving their practice and care of the older patient. It will also address the impact of delirium and discuss tools that can help to improve recognition. The most recent advances and current treatment methods to integrate into daily patient care are also discussed. This article places heavy emphasis on identification and prevention of delirium as these are the most important aspect of understanding delirium. Thus, treatment and management are both discussed after prevention since the primary focus of delirium is understanding and preventing this devastating syndrome in our hospitalized patients.
A Comparison of Traditional High School Biology Courses and the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study Program of Courses

An abstract of 75 words or less must accompany the manuscript; therefore, a summary is not required. FOOTNOTES: Unpublished documents and personal communications should be cited in the text by footnotes. Foot- notes should be indicated by consecu- tive, superscript numerals rather than by asterisks or other symbols. LITERATURE CITED: In the text, references to literature citations should be designated by the author's name and year of publication in parentheses. If there are more than two authors, only the senior author's name should be listed in the text with the abbreviation et al., for example: (Smith et al., 1965). Only published references should be given in the Literature Cited, and each should conform in style to the name-and-year- system of the C. B. E. STYLE MANUAL. 324 BioScience May 1967 INFORMATION FOR (ONTR1IBUTORS This content downloaded from 157.55.39.159 on Sun, 22 May 2016 04:22:44 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
Can we create a measure of fluid intelligence using Puzzle Creator within Portal 2

Abstract Researchers have suggested that video games can be used to measure cognitive abilities (e.g., Boot, 2015). To that end, we wanted to test the feasibility of developing a measure of fluid intelligence within a commercially-available video game. We created a 15 chamber (i.e., problems to be solved) test called the “Portal 2 Test Battery” using the Puzzle Creator within the popular problem-solving video game Portal 2. In study 1, 35 video game players (VGPs) who had experience playing Portal 2 completed this test and Ravens Advanced Progressive Matrices (RAPM), a validated measure of fluid intelligence, revealing a strong relationship (r = .65) between the two. In study 2, 100 participants, both VGPs and non-video game players (nVGPs) completed the Portal 2 Test Battery, RAPM, and the Bochumer Matrices Test (BOMAT), another validated measure of fluid intelligence. Structure equation modeling revealed a strong relationship between the latent variables fluid intelligence and portal ability (r = .78). Additionally, the reliability of our test was acceptable in both studies (α = .80 and α = .76). These results provide the first evidence that it may be feasible to create a measure of fluid intelligence using the Puzzle Creator within Portal 2.
Frequency-space prediction filtering for acoustic clutter and random noise attenuation in ultrasound imaging

Frequency-space prediction filtering (FXPF), also known as FX deconvolution, is a technique originally developed for random noise attenuation in seismic imaging. FXPF attempts to reduce random noise in seismic data by modeling only real signals that appear as linear or quasilinear events in the aperture domain. In medical ultrasound imaging, channel radio frequency (RF) signals from the main lobe appear as horizontal events after receive delays are applied while acoustic clutter signals from off-axis scatterers and electronic noise do not. Therefore, FXPF is suitable for preserving only the main-lobe signals and attenuating the unwanted contributions from clutter and random noise in medical ultrasound imaging. We adapt FXPF to ultrasound imaging, and evaluate its performance using simulated data sets from a point target and an anechoic cyst. Our simulation results show that using only 5 iterations of FXPF achieves contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) improvements of 67 % in a simulated noise-free anechoic cyst and 228 % in a simulated anechoic cyst contaminated with random noise of 15 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Our findings suggest that ultrasound imaging with FXPF attenuates contributions from both acoustic clutter and random noise and therefore, FXPF has great potential to improve ultrasound image contrast for better visualization of important anatomical structures and detection of diseased conditions.
Inequality, Advocacy, and the Foreclosure Crisis

Inequality has been a critical missing link in most policy debates over the causes and consequences of, and potential responses to, the foreclosure and related economic crises of recent years. This paper examines the impact of various trajectories of inequality on these events, the role of advocacy groups attempting to respond to these challenges, pushback from the industry, and potential next steps for ameliorating the costs. A key finding is that solutions to the nation’s banking crises will require addressing fundamental political forces that created the challenges and persist as ongoing barries to effective resolution.
Systematic Approach to Aortic Valvuloplasty in Children and Young Adults

Valve repair in children and young adults is an attractive alternative to replacement or Ross procedure. In the past, the various valvuloplasty techniques have addressed isolated valve pathology. Recently, however, a holistic approach involving repair of all aortic root structures has evolved and promised to be an excellent alternative to valve replacement. It provides good long-term results and avoids all the drawback of prosthetic valve insertion in this age group. Development of ideal patch material needed for valve repair and better understanding of the anatomy and function of the aortic root may further improve the short- and long-term outcomes of aortic valvuloplasty.
MGUS Transformation Into Multiple Myeloma In Patients With Solid Organ Transplantation

The risk of transformation of MGUS to MM is well studied and considered to be around 1%/year. However, this risk is not well defined in patients who undergo solid organ transplantation. A study by Jimenez et al Transplantation,2011 Sep 15;92(5):570-4 found no increased risk of transformation of MGUS to MM, but the sample size of patients who were diagnosed with MGUS prior to transplantation was small (34 patients). In another study by Naina et al Am J Nephrol. 2012;35(4):365-71, 2 out of 17 (11.7%) patients with pre-transplant MGUS and kidney transplant developed smoldering MM. To investigate this topic further, we reviewed the charts of patients who underwent solid organ transplant and who had a pre-transplant diagnosis of MGUS between years 2000 and 2010 and studied the incidence of transformation to MM in these patients. Patients who had MGUS diagnosed after the solid organ transplant were excluded. 57 patients were eligible. The number of patients with different kinds of transplant was as follows: 22 had liver transplant, 31 had kidney transplant, 3 patients had lung transplant, and 1 patient had heart transplant. The mean age was 57.3 years (range 32-76 years). 26.3% were females. The mean follow up was 45.6 months (range 1-156 months). The mean M protein on diagnosis was 0.52 g/dl. 16 patients had pre-transplant bone marrow biopsy with a mean plasma cell percentage of 4% (range 1-9%). 14 patients had normal cytogenetics and 1 patient had Trisomy 11 and another had deletion Y. 29 patients had their serum light chain ratio checked and it was normal in 22 out of 29 patients and abnormal in 7 patients. None of the 57 patients were diagnosed with MM during the follow up period. 1 patient developed PTLD 5 years post transplant. 14 patients died and 43 patients were still alive at the time of last follow up. Follow up on M protein was available for 35 patients with a mean follow up of 54 months (range 2-144 months) with the following observations: 19 patients (54%) had stable M protein (10 kidney, 8 liver, 1 lung), 6 patients (17%) had increase in M protein by at least 0.1 g/dl (4 kidney and 2 liver), and 10 patients had their M protein decrease or resolve (5 kidney, 4 liver, 1 Heart). Mean time to death was 18.65 months (1- 68.8 months). None of the deaths were related to MM and the causes were as follows: infection (3), GI bleed (1), malignancy (3) being Kaposi sarcoma, HCC and PTLD, liver failure (2), uremia (1), CVA (1), unknown (3). Immunosuppressants included mainly medrol, prograf, cellcept, cyclosporine and rapamune. Conclusion MGUS is not a contraindication to solid organ transplant as none of the patient developed MM during the follow up period and deaths were not related to progression of MGUS to MM. As 6 out of 57 patients (10.5%) had increase in M protein despite none being diagnosed with MM, we do suggest continued follow up on these patients at least once a year. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Screening ultrasonography for abdominal aortic aneurysm reduced mortality in older men and was cost-effective in the long term.

Source Citation Kim LG, Scott RA, Ashton HA, Thompson SG. A sustained mortality benefit from screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Ann Intern Med. 2007;146:699-706. 17502630
Candidate 10 micron HgCdTe arrays for the NEOCam space mission

The Near Earth Object Camera (NEOCam, Mainzer et al. 2015) is one of five NASA Discovery Class mission experiments selected for Phase A: down-select to one or two experiments will take place late in 2016. NEOCam will survey the sky in search of asteroids and comets, particularly those close to the Earth’s orbit. The NEOCam infrared telescope will have two infrared (IR) channels; one covering 4 to 5 microns, and one covering 6-10 microns. Both IR cameras will use multiple 2Kx2K pixel format HAWAII-2RG arrays with different cutoff wavelength HgCdTe detectors from Teledyne Imaging Sensors. Past development work by the University of Rochester with Teledyne Imaging Sensors and JPL (McMurtry et al. 2013, Dorn et al. 2016) focused upon bringing the 10 micron HgCdTe detector technology up to NASA TRL 6+. This work extends that development program to push the format from 1Kx1K to the larger 2Kx2K pixel array. We present results on the first 2Kx2K candidate 10 micron cutoff HgCdTe arrays, where we measured the dark current, read noise, and total noise.
From Positivism to Objectivity

Max Planck (1858–1947) was born in the city of Kiel in the Duchy of Holstein—now part of Germany.1 As a youth, he attended the classical Konigliche Maximilian Gymnasium, where he was introduced to the principle of the conservation of energy by one of his teachers, Hermann Muller. Although the young Planck was gifted in music—he excelled at performing on both the piano and the organ—he opted to study physics and mathematics when he enrolled at the University of Munich in 1874. Three years later, he traveled to Berlin for a year to study under Hermann von Helmholtz, Gustav Kirchoff and the mathematician Karl Weierstrass. Inspired by a careful reading of the theoretical papers of Rudolph Clausius during his time in Berlin, Planck wrote his 1879 doctoral dissertation on Clausius’ second law of thermodynamics. After completing his habilitation thesis on The equilibrium states of isotropic bodies at different temperatures, Planck returned to Munich to work as a lecturer (Privatdozent) for a few years before being appointed Associate Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Kiel in 1885. His subsequent work began to combine Clausius’ theory of thermodynamics with Maxwell’s electromagnetic theory of light. An outstanding problem, identified by Kirchoff, was obtaining a proper theoretical account of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by a heated body which was itself coated with a completely absorbing substance—the so-called “black-body radiation.” Existing theories, which treated the body as a collection of tiny oscillating electrical charges, failed to account for the observed black-body emission spectrum. After completing his Treatise on Thermodynamics in 1897, he moved to the University of Berlin where he succeeded Kirchoff as assistant professor and director of the new Institute of Theoretical Physics. It was during his time in Berlin that Planck solved the problem of black-body radiation. He did so by making the radical assumption that electromagnetic energy can only exist in discrete units, or quanta. The publication of Planck’s quantum hypothesis in 1900 is now regarded as marking the birth of modern quantum theory. In the reading selection below, Planck presents some of his mature views on the relationship between heat, energy and probability.
None invasive biometrie for patient information satisfying patient's security concerns

Medical emergencies are part of the common daily lives of people anywhere in the world. Frequently, some of these medical emergencies end up tragically for many people due to many reasons, one of which depends on the delivery of the medical treatment especially when the patient is uncommunicative or unresponsive. The ability of the attending medical personnel to access a patient's medical history is critical for the quality of the treatment rendered during emergencies. Unfortunately, today many lives are lost in low income economies during medical emergencies due to lack of and inaccessibility of a patient's medical information.
Sustainably Funding Transportation Infrastructure: Tax Fuel or Miles?

The United States faces an infrastructure crisis. The United States has funded its transportation system with a dedicated tax on gasoline, which has not been increased for over two decades. The funding structure for highways and transit is not working for today’s transportation needs. As motor vehicles have become more efficient, they use less fuel, which means less revenue for the transportation system. This revenue shortfall leads to consideration of a tax shift from fuel taxes to vehicle miles travelled taxes. A shift from taxing fuel to taxing miles travelled creates many policy implications, including whether replacing fuel taxes with vehicle miles travelled taxes would encourage the use of less fuel efficient vehicles, with a resulting negative impact on the environment. This article considers the benefits and detriments of the different funding approaches for transportation needs.
Fractionated software for networked cyber-physical systems: research directions and long-term vision

An emerging generation of mission-critical systems employs distributed, dynamically reconfigurable open architectures. These systems may include a variety of devices that sense and affect their environment and the configuration of the system itself. We call such systems Networked Cyber-Physical Systems (NCPS). NCPS can provide complex, situation-aware, and often critical services in applications such as distributed sensing and surveillance, crisis response, self-assembling structures or systems, networked satellite and unmanned vehicle missions, or distributed critical infrastructure monitoring and control. In this paper we lay out research directions centered around a new paradigm for the design of NCPS based on a notion of software fractionation that we are currently exploring which can serve as the basis for a new generation of runtime assurance techniques. The idea of software fractionation is inspired by and complementary to hardware fractionation -- the basis for the fractionated satellites of DARPA's F6 program. Fractionated software has the potential of leading to software that is more robust, leveraging both diversity and redundancy. It raises the level of abstraction at which assurance techniques are applied. We specifically propose research in just-in-time verification and validation techniques, which are agile -- adapting to changing situations and requirements, and efficient -- focusing on properties of immediate concern in the context of locally reachable states, thus largely avoiding the state space explosion problem. We propose an underlying reflective architecture that maintains models of itself, the environment, and the mission that is key for adaptation, verification, and validation.
Leadership and Metrics

This Chapter illustrates the use of metrics to assist with leadership strategies and how to engage employees through metrics. The focus is on linking metrics to strategies to determine the efficacy of strategies and implementation. Linking metrics to strategies focuses management on measurement of what matters and reduces “noise”. Innovative approaches to measurement and well-designed incentive structures assist the leader in guiding organizational performance and building trust.
Nonadherence in the Learning Healthcare System: Avoiding a Mountain by Seeing the Bumps

A Learning Healthcare System has been defined by the Institute of Medicine as a system in which continuous improvement and innovation occur and best practices are seamlessly embedded in the delivery process.1 New knowledge is captured as an integral by-product of the delivery experience. This framework seems directly relevant to the problem of medication nonadherence, which can occur at multiple points when a patient is on lifelong therapy and often goes undetected but, if recognized, can be addressed by therapeutic changes that address the underlying cause (eg, side effects). Statin medications can be used to illustrate how a Learning Healthcare System framework can be applied to the challenge of medication nonadherence. See Article by Booth et al Statins are among the most important medications for secondary prevention of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).2 In the 5 years after AMI, one need only treat ≈30 patients with a statin to prevent 1 cardiovascular death.3 Statins are overall well tolerated—despite occasional media coverage to the contrary—and their benefits seem to accumulate over time.4,5 As evidence for their clear efficacy has accumulated, prescriptions for statins after AMI have accelerated.6 Yet, up to 30% of patients are nonadherent with secondary prevention therapy just 6 months after a heart attack, a number that increases to 50% at 2 years7,8 and increases the risk of adverse outcomes.9 Interventions that increase healthcare intensity and access, such as electronic reminders and educational programs, may work10 but are infrequently used because additional resources are needed to capture at-risk patients. Identifying nonadherent patients is hard: in most practices, it requires …
All for One, and One for All

Hemizygous deletion of a gene in tumor cells frequently causes reduced expression of its encoded mRNA and protein, as well as reduced protein—but not mRNA—expression of other members in the same protein complex.
Sketchnoting: A new approach to developing visual communication ability, improving critical thinking and creative confidence for engineering and design students

In this study we provide our methodology and implementation strategy of Sketchnoting in Freshman Engineering and Technological Literacy classes. The objective is to improve students' learning, visualization, and communication proficiencies, as well as to foster advancement in knowledge retention, and critical thinking. This study provides the motivation, supporting research background, design, and the first set of results of this new approach implemented in engineering and design curricula.
Decomposition of the Thermal Boundary Resistance across Carbon Nanotube-Graphene Junctions to Different Mechanisms.

Three different mechanisms are identified to contribute to thermal resistances across a carbon nanotube–graphene junction: material mismatch, nonplanar junction, and defects. To isolate the contrib...
Heart rate as a predictor and a therapeutic target of cardiac ischemic complications after non-cardiac surgery. A narrative review

Abstract Postoperative cardiac ischemic complications are frequent and strongly associated with postoperative mortality. Elevated heart rate before, during and after surgery increases the risk of postoperative myocardial injury, myocardial infarction and mortality. Yet, in absence of strong causal evidence, heart rate is seldom used for risk stratification. While beta-blockers reduce the risk of tachycardia and myocardial infarction, their initiation within 24 h of surgery is harmful. Rather than a "one-size fits all" approach, we propose that safe and efficient administration of beta blockers should take into account both the perioperative risk and the pharmacogenetic profile of each patient. In the future, new drugs designed to modulate heart rate without significant hypotension (e.g. ivabradine) may replace beta-blockers.
Interaction with Family and Friends in Neurosurgical Critical Care

Quality medical care requires clinicians to have expertise in many areas of practice; one essential area is communication with patients, families, and surrogates. This expertise is especially important when the patient is critically ill in an intensive care unit (ICU), where information exchange occurs more commonly with families and surrogates. Communication challenges in the ICU are greater because critically ill patients frequently are unable to speak for themselves and the clinician is dependent on surrogate decision-makers, friends, or family members, to understand the patient’s goals and values regarding life and health care.
Status of Electroweak Theory for Heavy Quark Decays and CP Violation

The phenomena of quark mixing in weak interaction are described. The current experimental status of the mixing matrix, charm and beauty particle decays, and CP violations are reported. Future interesting experiments are pointed out, especially in the event that higher generations of quarks exist.
Evaluating the Effects of Team Composition and Performance Environment on Team Performance

Performance, interpersonal relations, equity, and output are examined for both online and face to face team structures. As organizations make wider use of online teams to transcend geographical boundaries and maintain tight cost controls, the question remains whether these innovations are as or more effective than traditional face-to-face group structures. Hypothesized relationships are tested that include the evaluation of the team performance in online groups contrasted to face to face groups; group performance is hypothesized to be higher where membership in the group is self-selected as opposed to assigned group membership; group performance is hypothesized to be highest where its membership is self-selected and face to face. Interaction effects are tested within these hypothesized relationships. Suggestions are made that face to face groups, while a more costly alternative, may have higher levels of performance than online groups over the longer-term. Areas for future research are identified.
Investigating How Oxidative DNA Base Damage Alters Telomere Maintenance

Oxidative stress caused by intrinsic or environmental factors is associated with accelerated telomere shortening. The complex cellular responses to oxidative stress involve alterations in multiple cellular components including gene expression, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids, which may indirectly affect telomeres. Therefore, whether oxidative damage to telomeric DNA can directly induce changes in telomere length remains unresolved. The common oxidative lesion 8-oxoguanine (8-oxodG) arises in the telomeres either by direct reaction with free radicals, or by insertion of damaged precursor dNTPs during DNA synthesis. To study the biological consequences of 8-oxodG formation and processing at telomeres, we established an innovative system that selectively induces 8-oxodG at telomeres. In this system telomeric protein TRF1 is tagged with a fluorogen activating peptide (FAP) that has high affinity for a photosensitizer dye. Activation of the FAP bound dye with 660 nm light generates singlet oxygen, which reacts with DNA to form 8-oxoG. We show this leads to the recruitment of 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1), and downstream base excision repair proteins, exclusively to telomeres. A single round of oxidative damage induction at telomere causes no obvious defects in telomere maintenance or cell growth. However, repeated rounds of singlet oxygen generation at telomeres leads to decreased cell growth, telomere shortening, telomere loss and micronuclei formation over time. Loss of OGG1 by CRISPR mediated gene disruption exacerbates these phenotypes, and leads to an increase in chromosome end-to-end fusions and anaphase chromosome bridges after induction of chronic telomere damage, compared to wild type cells. Our results provide evidence that the accumulation of unrepaired 8-oxodG selectively at telomeres is sufficient to induce telomere shortening and dysfunction, as well as chromosomal instability in human cell lines.
Beyond the Online versus On-campus Debate: Leveraging Technology in a CoI Framework to Enhance Student and Faculty Presence in the MSW Classroom

While research typically utilizes Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) to evaluate online education programs (OEP) compared to on-campus programs (OCP), little attention is given to other qualitative el...
Grandpaternal effects are lineage- and sex-specific in threespined sticklebacks

Abstract Transgenerational plasticity (TGP) occurs when the environment encountered by one generation (F0) alters the phenotypes of one or more future generations (e.g. F1 and F2). Sex selective TGP, via specific lineages or to only male or female descendants, has been underexplored in natural systems, but may be adaptive if it allows past generations to fine-tune the phenotypes of future generations in response to sex-specific life history strategies. We sought to understand if exposing males to predation risk can influence grandoffspring via sperm in threespined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). We specifically tested the hypothesis that grandparental effects are transmitted in a sex-specific way down the male lineage, from paternal grandfathers to F2 males. We reared F1 offspring of unexposed and predator-exposed F0 males under ‘control’ conditions and used them to generate F2s with control grandfathers, a predator-exposed maternal grandfather, a predator-exposed paternal grandfather, or two predator-exposed grandfathers. We then assayed male and female F2s for a variety of traits related to antipredator defense. Grandpaternal effects depended on lineage and were mediated largely across sexes, from F1 males to F2 females and from F1 females to F2 males. When their paternal grandfather was exposed to predation risk, female F2s were heavier and showed a reduced change in behavior in response to a simulated predator attack relative to offspring of unexposed grandparents. In contrast, male F2s showed reduced antipredator behavior when their maternal grandfather was exposed to predation risk. However, these patterns were only evident when one grandfather, but not both grandfathers, was exposed to predation risk. If sex-specific effects are common, then grandparental effects are likely underestimated in the literature. These results draw attention to the importance of sex-selective inheritance of environmental effects and raise new questions about the proximate and ultimate causes of selective transmission across generations.
Characterization of the NLRP1 inflammasome response in bovine species

Inflammasomes act as sensors of infection or damage to initiate immune responses. While extensively studied in rodents, understanding of livestock inflammasomes is limited. The NLRP1 inflammasome sensor in rodents is activated by Toxoplasma gondii, Bacillus anthracis lethal toxin (LT), and potentially other zoonotic pathogens. LT activates NLRP1 by N-terminal proteolysis, inducing macrophage pyroptosis and a pro-inflammatory cytokine response. In contrast, NLRP1 in macrophages from humans and certain rodent strains is resistant to LT cleavage, and pyroptosis is not induced. Evolution of NLRP1 sequences towards those leading to pyroptosis is of interest in understanding innate immune responses in different hosts. We characterized NLRP1 in cattle (Bos taurus) and American bison (Bison bison). Bovine NLRP1 is not cleaved by LT, and cattle and bison macrophages do not undergo toxin-induced pyroptosis. Additionally, we found a predicted Nlrp1 splicing isoform in cattle macrophages lacking the N-terminal domain. Resistance to LT in bovine and human NLRP1 correlates with evolutionary sequence similarity to rodents. Consistent with LT-resistant rodents, bovine macrophages undergo a slower non-pyroptotic death in the presence of LPS and LT. Overall, our findings support the model that NLRP1 activation by LT requires N-terminal cleavage, and provide novel information on mechanisms underlying immune response diversity.
Correlation of Glomerular Size With Donor-Recipient Factors and With Response to Injury.

BACKGROUND Glomerular size in renal allografts is impacted by donor-recipient factors and response to injury. In serial biopsies of patients with well-functioning grafts, increased glomerular size correlates with better survival. However, no previous study has addressed the association of glomerular size at the time of a for-cause biopsy and clinical/histopathologic markers of injury, or effect on long-term graft outcome. METHODS Two cohorts of kidney transplant recipients enrolled in the Deterioration of Kidney Allograft Function study were evaluated. The prospective cohort (PC, n = 581): patients undergoing first for-cause kidney biopsy 1.7 ± 1.4 (mean ± SD) y posttransplant; and the cross-sectional cohort (CSC, n = 446): patients developing new-onset renal function deterioration 7.7 ± 5.6 y posttransplant. Glomerular planar surface area and diameter were measured on all glomeruli containing a vascular pole. Kidney biopsy was read centrally in a blinded fashion according to the Banff criteria. RESULTS Glomerular area was significantly higher in the CSC than the PC; time from transplant to indication biopsy was associated with glomerular area in both cohorts (P values ≤ 0.001). Glomerular area was associated with indices of microvascular inflammation (glomerulitis, peritubular capillary infiltrates; P values ≤ 0.001) and segmental glomerulosclerosis (P value < 0.0001). In the CSC, higher glomerular area was associated with higher estimated glomerular filtration rate (P value ≤ 0.001) and increased graft survival after accounting for microvascular inflammation (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.967; 95% confidence interval: 0.948-0.986; hazard ratio in biopsies without evidence of diabetes or antibody mediated rejection = 0.919, 95% confidence interval: 0.856-0.987). CONCLUSIONS Glomerular size is associated with histopathologic features present at the time of indication biopsy and with increased graft survival in the CSC.