cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal space-varying regularization in iterative image restoration

It has been shown that space-variant regularization in image restoration provides better results than space-invariant regularization. However, the optimal choice of the regularization parameter is usually unknown a priori. In previous work, the generalized cross-validation (GCV) criterion was shown to provide accurate estimates of the optimal regularization parameter. The author introduces a modified form of the GCV criterion that incorporates space-variant regularization and data error terms. Furthermore, he presents an efficient method for estimating the GCV criterion for the space-variant case using iterative image restoration techniques. This method performs nearly as well as the exact criterion for the image restoration problem. In addition, he proposes a Wiener filter interpretation for choosing the local weighting of the regularization. This interpretation suggests the use of a multistage estimation procedure to estimate the optimal choice of the local regularization weights. Experiments confirm the value of the modified GCV estimation criterion as well as the multistage procedure for estimating the local regularization weights. >
Parallel MoM using higher order basis function and PLAPACK In-core and out-of-core solvers for challenging EM simulations

Currently, the problem size that can be solved by the method of moments (MoM) is limited by the amount of RAM installed on the computer. To reduce number of unknowns for MoM, a higher order polynomial function is introduced in this paper as the basis function. To further extend the capability of the MoM code, this paper also describes a newly developed out-of-core solver based on PLAPACK which breaks the memory constraint while maintaining the efficiency of in-core implementation. Results on a representative computer platform for a challenge electromagnetic problem show that the out-of-core solver introduced is an efficient way to deal with a large matrix equation. The implementation of these advancements creates a powerful tool for efficient computational electromagnetic solution of large and complex real world problems.
Discoveries with a Computer: Dynamic Behavior

In his book, The Night Country, Loren Eiseley recounted an archaeologist’s experience of excavating an Egyptian pyramid as follows: “You crawl along some dark corridor on hands and knees, past falls of rock; the light of the lamp gleams on minute crystals in the stratified walls; beyond, the corridor disappears into the blackness. You turn corners, feeling your way with your hands; the workmen have been left behind, and suddenly, you realize you are alone in a place which has not heard a footfall for nearly fifty centuries.”
A wavelet-based watermarking algorithm for ownership verification of digital images

Access to multimedia data has become much easier due to the rapid growth of the Internet. While this is usually considered an improvement of everyday life, it also makes unauthorized copying and distributing of multimedia data much easier, therefore presenting a challenge in the field of copyright protection. Digital watermarking, which is inserting copyright information into the data, has been proposed to solve the problem. In this paper, we first discuss the features that a practical digital watermarking system for ownership verification requires. Besides perceptual invisibility and robustness, we claim that the private control of the watermark is also very important. Second, we present a novel wavelet-based watermarking algorithm. Experimental results and analysis are then given to demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is effective and can be used in a practical system.
New concepts and applications in the use of the insulin pump during pregnancy.

Subcutaneous insulin infusion or insulin pump therapy has been advocated as an alternative to multiple dose insulin injections for nearly two decades. These devices provide insulin administration in a pattern which more closely resembles that of physiologic insulin release, a basal insulin infusion during the day and throughout the night with boluses given prior to meals. Because the number of patients using an insulin pump is increasing, it is likely the perinatologist will encounter women who are being treated with an insulin infusion pump or are considering this therapy. Insulin pump therapy requires that the patient be highly motivated and compliant. One of the most important criteria in selecting patients for this treatment is their willingness to test their capillary glucose levels 6 to 8 times each day. Interruption of the insulin infusion can produce hyperglycemia in any pump user. Should this occur in the pregnant patient, the likelihood of ketoacidosis developing is significantly greater. Ideall...
Geometry of complex numbers and quaternions

When the plane is viewed as the plane ℂ of complex numbers, rotation about O through angle θ is the same as multiplication by the number
What Shall I Do Now? Released Offenders' Expectations for Supervision Upon Release

In an outcome evaluation of recovering addicts who participated in a prison-based therapeutic community, 39 clients (a nonrandomized subsample) were interviewed about their rehabilitation and reintegration experience. The study focused on participants' perceptions of how essential the continuum of treatment and supervision after release was. Whereas many studies have shown that participating in prison-based drug treatment programs reduces likelihood of recidivism, clients in this study suggested that other factors might be equally important—in particular, the importance of the continuum of treatment after release and/or being supervised in the community. Findings are discussed in regard to inmates' expectations, confusion upon release, and formal support mechanisms; suggestions for further research are made.
Perpetual Care in Cyberspace: A Portrait of Memorials on the Web:

This study describes memorials in the newly created “virtual cemeteries.” Web memorials (N = 276) from three cemeteries were coded for demographics about the deceased, characteristics of authors, and issues of content, audience, and theme. While memorials were extremely varied, they were written frequently for the young (M age = 47, SD = 24) and for more males than females. Most deaths were recent, but 7.3 percent had occurred more than twenty years prior to the posting of their memorials. Authors included family members, friends, and others who were typically younger or from the same cohort as the deceased. Most memorials were addressed to the community, but 28.3 percent were written to the dead. The majority of memorials were written as stories or celebrations but other primary themes included: grief/missing the dead, retelling the circumstances of the death, and guilt. Web memorials are discussed as a resource to the bereaved and researchers alike, providing the bereaved with an opportunity to create a...
“Everyone Needs a Class Like This”: High School Students' Perspectives on a Gay and Lesbian Literature Course

AbstractThis article offers insights on how students experienced and made sense of their learning in a trimester-long high school Gay and Lesbian Literature course. Drawing on questionnaires and interviews that the students completed as part of a larger ethnographic study of this class, the author shows how a queer-themed literature curriculum is relevant for both LGBTQ-identifying and straight–identifying students and contributes to a better school climate.
A Gramscian Approach to Interpreting International Communication

Postwar trends in international communication research reveal that the three main paradigms-modernization, dependency, and postdependency-have theoretical an methodological limitations for analyzing the complexities of cultural practices in the contemporary era. The limitations arise from the narrow theoretical concern centered on the polarity between development and dependency, and the overemphasis of economic forces at the expense of cultural forces. In this essay the author urges a focus on cultural dynamics to reflect rapidly changing conditions of integration and disintegration among diverse cultural forces in a global society. The concepts and methods in postmodern cultural studies can facilitate this theoretical shift. The Gramscian concept of hegemony allows us to explore the economic aspect of cultural production by media industries and the cultural-ideological aspect of audience readings within a single research framework.
Modeling of RF heating due to metal implants in MRI

Metal implants, even if non-ferromagnetic, may couple with the radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic field used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cause a heating hazard. With the development of MRI as a tool for image-guided surgery, metal devices (e.g. guidewires) are being used in patients during MRI scans. This paper reviews the electromagnetic and bioheat transfer methods we have used to evaluate the safety of metal devices in MRI with respect to RF heating. We recommend updated regulatory guidelines to deal with the highly localized heating encountered with metal implants. We also recommend the use of the safety index as a useful measure of the RF safety of a device.
Male chacma baboons (Papio hamadryas ursinus) discriminate loud call contests between rivals of different relative ranks.

Males in multi-male groups of chacma baboons (Papio hamadryas ursinus) in Botswana compete for positions in a linear dominance hierarchy. Previous research suggests that males treat different categories of rivals differently; competitive displays between males of similar rank are more frequent and intense than those between disparately ranked males. Here we test whether males also respond differently to male–male interactions in which they are not directly involved, using playbacks of the loud ‘wahoo’ calls exchanged between competing males in aggressive displays. We played paired sequences of vocal contests between two adjacently ranked and two disparately ranked males to ten subjects, half ranking below the signalers in the call sequences and half above. Subjects who ranked above the two signalers showed stronger responses than lower-ranking subjects. Higher-ranking subjects also responded more strongly to sequences involving disparately ranked, as opposed to adjacently ranked opponents, suggesting that they recognized those individuals’ relative ranks. Strong responses to sequences between disparately ranked opponents might have occurred either because such contests typically involve resources of high fitness value (defense of meat, estrous females or infants vulnerable to infanticide) or because they indicate a sudden change in one contestant’s condition. In contrast, subjects who ranked lower than the signalers responded equally strongly to both types of sequences. These subjects may have been able to distinguish between the two categories of opponents but did not respond differently to them because they had little to lose or gain by a rank reversal between males that already ranked higher than they did.
Translational research--the value of new evidence for improving the quality of pediatric nursing practice.

The value of new research evidence that is translated into pediatric nursing practice is reflected in improved health outcomes for children and their families and improved quality of care. TRANSLATION AND INTEGRATION of research evidence into pediatric nursing practice improves the quality of child and family health outcomes (Christian, 2011, 2012a, 2012b, 2012c). Indeed, evidence-based practice (EBP) is the key to high quality healthcare and results in the best patient outcomes (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2011). Nursing research generates new knowledge that is translated to clinical practice to improve the quality of care (Polit & Beck, 2012). In this way, new evidence is translated into pediatric nursing practice to improve the quality of care for children and their families (Hockenberry & Wilson, 2011). Yet, translation of research evidence into best practices requires critical appraisal of evidence (Hall & Roussel, 2014) to integrate into best clinical practices to improve the quality of care (Sackett, Straus, Richardson, Rosenberg, & Haynes, 2000; DiCenso, Guyatt, & Ciliska, 2005; Melnyk & FineoutOverholt, 2011). To that end, translation of evidence generated from research and integration of this evidence into pediatric nursing practice is essential for achieving improved quality healthcare outcomes for children and their families (Christian, 2012b, 2013a, 2013b). In this issue of the Journal of Pediatric Nursing, five research articles have employed diverse research methods to discover new evidence for translation from research to pediatric nursing practice to improve the quality of care for children and their families. The focus of these studies includes an exploration of the pediatric nursing work environment and the occurrence of medication administration errors; the relationship between exposure to violence and crime and the development of social-emotional problems
Comparative physiology: a “crystal ball” for predicting consequences of global change

Comparative physiology offers powerful approaches for developing causal, mechanistic explanations of shifts in biogeographic patterning occurring in concert with global change. These analyses can i...
Segmented hash

Hash tables provide efficient table implementations, achieving O(1), query, insert and delete operations at low loads. However, at moderate or high loads collisions are quite frequent, resulting in decreased performance. In this paper, we propose the segmented hash table architecture, which ensures constant time hash operations at high loads with high probability. To achieve this, the hash memory is divided into N logical segments so that each incoming key has N potential storage locations; the destination segment is chosen so as to minimize collisions. In this way, collisions, and the associated probe sequences, are dramatically reduced. In order to keep memory utilization minimized, probabilistic filters are kept on-chip to allow the N segments to be accessed without increasing the number of off-chip memory operations. These filters are kept small and accurate with the help of a novel algorithm, called selective filter insertion, which keeps the segments balanced while minimizing false positive rates (i.e., incorrect filter predictions). The performance of our scheme is quantified via analytical modeling and software simulations. Moreover, we discuss efficient implementations that are easily realizable in modern device technologies. The performance benefits are significant: average search cost is reduced by 40% or more, while the likelihood of requiring more than one memory operation per search is reduced by several orders of magnitude.
Residues of Dursban and its oxygen analog in the body tissues of treated cattle.

Residues of Dursban® (O,O -diethyl O -3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl phosphorothioate) and its oxygen analog (diethyl 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl phosphate) present in the body tissues of cattle and the rate of elimination were determined after single spray treatments with 0.25 or 0.05% emulsions, a single dip with a 0.05% emulsion, and multiple dips with a 0.05% emulsion. The residues of Dursban were preponderant in the fatty tissues, and the low residues found in other tissues could be attributed to the small amount of fat present. Average residues in the fat of treated cattle 1 week after a single dip were about twice those resulting from a single spray treatment; average residue in the fat 1 week after the multiple dips was about 6 times that in the fat of cattle dipped once. The oxygen analog was found only in fat samples containing the higher residues of Dursban; they amounted to about 1% of the residue of Dursban.
A Natural H2S Donor Found in Garlic Attenuates Ischemia-Reperfusion Damage in Neurons by Protecting Mitochondrial Respiration

Reoxygenation Maximal Reserve Capacity O C R ( p m o l/ m in /μ g p tn ) Control DADS 50μM DetaNO 150μM DetaNO+DADS A Natural H2S Donor Found in Garlic Attenuates Ischemia-Reperfusion Damage in Neurons by Protecting Mitochondrial Respiration Gloria A. Benavides1,2, Qiuli Liang 1,2, Jianhua Zhang1,2, Victor M. Darley-Usmar1,2 1Center for Free Radical Biology, 2Department of Pathology. University of Alabama at Birmingham
Discussing the measures of sanitation and anti-epidemic support for army that succoring in snow-calamity

ObjectiveTo discuss the measures of sanitation and anti-epidemic support for army that succoring in snow-calamity. MethodsTo analyze the problems of sanitation and anti-epidemic that easy to occur in the environment of snow,ice rain and frost,and put forward the appropriate prevention measures. ResultsTo make great efforts on sanitation and anti-epidemic support such as cold injury,water and food supply hygiene,surveillance of epidemic,preventive disinfection and pest control.ConclusionIt has important significance of making great efforts on sanitation and anti-epidemic support for succoring army to maintain battle effectiveness and complete the succoring mission.
Advances in ultrafast optics and imaging applications

Ultrafast imaging has been a key enabler to many novel imaging modalities, including looking behind corners and imaging behind scattering layers. With picosecond time resolution and unconventional sensing geometries, ultrafast imaging can fundamentally impact sensing capabilities in industrial and biomedical applications. This paper reviews the fundamentals, recent advances, and the future prospects of ultrafast imaging-based modalities.
Design and Participation

Cardiovascular risk factor variables were examined in a cohort of 440 infants from birth through 7 years of age. Anthropometric measures, BP, serum lipid and lipoprotein values, and dietary intake data were obtained according to detailed protocols. Various quality controls to ensure the collection of valid and reliable data were instituted. Participation remained high throughout the study with 80% of the children examined at 6 months and 60% at 7 years of age. Rates were slightly higher for black than for white children. Children born in the private hospital were more likely to continue in the study than children born in the charity hospital. Children of parents examined when the child was 2 years of age were more likely to be examined during the preschool phases, but parental examination was not related to child examination when the child was 7 years of age. As in studies of school-aged children, measurement errors were lowest for height, weight, and serum total cholesterol. Measurement errors for BP were highest at the younger ages, particularly for diastolic BP. Examination of a newborn cohort throughout time affords the opportunity to study early development of relationships and tracking of cardiovascular risk factors.
Atelectasis in Childhood

The clinician who identifies atelectasis in a child must determine the mechanism by which atelectasis developed, the functional significance of the collapsed lung, and the etiology responsible for its presence. This article provides a framework to help physicians address these issues and thereby elect the most rational diagnostic and therapeutic interventions at the most appropriate time.
Effect of use-criteria for intravenous administration sets.

Numbers of intravenous administration sets used were studied in a 480-bed hospital before and after criteria for selecting sets were implemented. Criteria for use of eight common administration sets were developed by a committee of nurses and pharmacists. Hospital drug-use review was used as a pattern. Baseline data were collected for seven-day periods on each of five patient-care units; twice daily, one pharmacist recorded the numbers of sets used and determined their compliance with the criteria, which had been established but not disseminated to nurses or implemented. After nurses were instructed on use of the criteria, data were collected for a second seven-day period on each unit. Use of each set type as a percentage of all sets and compliant use of each type as a percentage of all compliant use were calculated. Annual hospitalwide cost savings were predicted from the observed changes in use and the hospital's costs in the six-month period before the study. Significant changes occurred in overall use and in use of individual set types. For each set type, use compliant with the criteria increased. Notable changes included decreased use of volumetric chambers (burettes) and increased relative use of Y maxidrip and Y minidrip sets. Annual savings of more than +20,000 were predicted. Criteria for selection of i.v. administration sets had an effect on set use at this hospital.
Laterally vibrating resonator based elasto-optic modulation in aluminum nitride

An integrated strain-based optical modulator driven by a piezoelectric laterally vibrating resonator is demonstrated. The composite structure consists of an acoustic Lamb wave resonator, in which a photonic racetrack resonator is internally embedded to enable overlap of the guided optical mode with the induced strain field. Both types of resonators are defined in an aluminum nitride (AlN) thin film, which rests upon a layer of silicon dioxide in order to simultaneously define optical waveguides, and the structure is released from a silicon substrate. Lateral vibrations produced by the acoustic resonator are transferred through a partially etched layer of AlN, producing a change in the effective index of the guided wave through the interaction of the strain components with the AlN elasto-optic (p) coefficients. Optical modulation through the elasto-optic effect is demonstrated at electromechanically actuated frequencies of 173 MHz and 843 MHz. This device geometry further enables the development of MEMS-based optical modulators in addition to studying elasto-optic interactions in suspended piezoelectric thin films.
Laparoscopic staging and intraoperative ultrasonography for liver tumor management.

Intraoperative ultrasonography has become an invaluable tool for programs that perform large volume, complex liver operations. Together with laparoscopy, intraoperative ultrasonography helps in appropriate staging, aids in decision-making, and tailors operations so as to minimize short-term morbidity and optimize longterm benefit.
Hierarchical Species Distribution Models

Determining the distribution pattern of a species is important to increase scientific knowledge, inform management decisions, and conserve biodiversity. To infer spatial and temporal patterns, species distribution models have been developed for use with many sampling designs and types of data. Recently, it has been shown that count, presence-absence, and presence-only data can be conceptualized as arising from a point process distribution. Therefore, it is important to understand properties of the point process distribution. We examine how the hierarchical species distribution modeling framework has been used to incorporate a wide array of regression and theory-based components while accounting for the data collection process and making use of auxiliary information. The hierarchical modeling framework allows us to demonstrate how several commonly used species distribution models can be derived from the point process distribution, highlight areas of potential overlap between different models, and suggest areas where further research is needed.
Fabrication of electrocatalytic Ta nanoparticles by reactive sputtering and ion soft landing

About 40 years ago, it was shown that tungsten carbide exhibits similar catalytic behavior to Pt for certain commercially relevant reactions, thereby suggesting the possibility of cheaper and earth-abundant substitutes for costly and rare precious metal catalysts. In this work, reactive magnetron sputtering of Ta in the presence of three model hydrocarbons (2-butanol, heptane, and m-xylene) combined with gas aggregation and ion soft landing was employed to prepare organic-inorganic hybrid nanoparticles (NPs) on surfaces for evaluation of catalytic activity and durability. The electrocatalytic behavior of the NPs supported on glassy carbon was evaluated in acidic aqueous solution by cyclic voltammetry. The Ta-heptane and Ta-xylene NPs were revealed to be active and robust toward promotion of the oxygen reduction reaction, an important process occurring at the cathode in fuel cells. In comparison, pure Ta and Ta-butanol NPs were essentially unreactive. Characterization techniques including atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were applied to probe how different sputtering conditions such as the flow rates of gases, sputtering current, and aggregation length affect the properties of the NPs. AFM images reveal the focused size of the NPs as well as their preferential binding along the step edges of graphite surfaces. In comparison, TEM images of the same NPs on carbon grids show that they bind randomly to the surface with some agglomeration but little coalescence. The TEM images also reveal morphologies with crystalline cores surrounded by amorphous regions for NPs formed in the presence of 2-butanol and heptane. In contrast, NPs formed in the presence of m-xylene are amorphous throughout. XPS spectra indicate that while the percentage of Ta, C, and O in the NPs varies depending on the sputtering conditions and hydrocarbon employed, the electron binding energies of the elements are similar for all of the NPs. The difference in reactivity between the NPs is attributed to their Ta/C ratios. Collectively, the findings presented herein indicate that reactive magnetron sputtering and gas aggregation combined with ion soft landing offer a promising physical approach for the synthesis of organic-inorganic hybrid NPs that have potential as low-cost durable substitutes for precious metals in catalysis.
Spectraplakin family proteins – cytoskeletal crosslinkers with versatile roles

The different cytoskeletal networks in a cell are responsible for many fundamental cellular processes. Current studies have shown that spectraplakins, cytoskeletal crosslinkers that combine features of both the spectrin and plakin families of crosslinkers, have a critical role in integrating these different cytoskeletal networks. Spectraplakin genes give rise to a variety of isoforms that have distinct functions. Importantly, all spectraplakin isoforms are uniquely able to associate with all three elements of the cytoskeleton, namely, F-actin, microtubules and intermediate filaments. In this Review, we will highlight recent studies that have unraveled their function in a wide range of different processes, from regulating cell adhesion in skin keratinocytes to neuronal cell migration. Taken together, this work has revealed a diverse and indispensable role for orchestrating the function of different cytoskeletal elements in vivo.
Toward a signature pedagogy for arts integration in educator preparation

The introduction of arts integration as an approach of teaching and learning adds a layer of complexity to the preparation of pre-service teachers and administrators. We must explore the di...
Downsizing bei PKW-Motoren

Durch die erforderliche Schonung fossiler Energietrager und der sich laufend verscharfenden CO2‐Gesetzgebung ergibt sich als Hauptaufgabe fur die Automobilindustrie, kraftstoffverbrauchssenkende Masnahmen umzusetzen. Gleichzeitig haben alternative Antriebsformen, wie z. B. die Elektromobilitat, zu einer beschleunigten Entwicklung auch bei den konventionellen Antrieben im Fahrzeug gefuhrt. Generell ist zu beobachten, dass bemerkenswerte Verbrauchseinsparungen beim Verbrennungsmotor v. a. auch durch Downsizing‐Konzepte in den Fahrzeugen erzielt werden. Das Downsizing als Masnahme zur CO2‐Reduzierung bei Diesel‐ und Ottomotoren steht hierbei allerdings im Spannungsfeld mit der neu eingefuhrten RDE‐Gesetzgebung.
AMP v Myriad The Supreme Court Gives a Win to Personalized Medicine

The guest editorial provides perspective to the decision by the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Association for Molecular Pathology v Myriad Genetics, Inc.
An effective strategy for intervention with children and adolescents affected by HIV and AIDS.

Therapeutic efforts in a group format have been practiced successfully since the late nineteenth century. Children and adolescents affected by HIV/AIDS are among the populations that have been found to benefit from participation in groups. This article outlines the theoretical approach taken by one such group program and describes the ways in which clinically defined support groups can provide an appropriate and effective intervention for children deeply troubled by shame, secrecy, and loss associated with HIV disease. Case studies are used as illustration.
ACCEPTOR AND DONOR IMPURITIES IN GRAPHITE

It has been requested that the present state of knowledge concerning the effects of donor and acceptor impurities in graphite be reviewed. Five different types of impurities or defects which affect the electron distribution in graphite are known. These are ordered and disordered interstitial chemical impurities, substitutional impurities, radiation induced disorder, and quenched-in vacancies. Ordered interstitial chemical impurities (lamellar compounds) have been introduced and studied in polycrystalline and in single crystal graphite. Disordered interstitial impurities (residue compounds) have been studied only in polycrystalline graphite. Substitutional impurities have been introduced in both polycrystalline and single crystal graphite, but only one impurity, boron, has been studied thus far. Effects of radiation have been studied in detail, but are complicated because various different centers are present. Vacancies or other lattice defects can apparently be introduced even in single crystals by quenching from high temperatures.
Nonspecific adaptation of jejunal amino acid uptake in the rat.

Abstract Luminal nutrients are a major effector of intestinal adaptation. Amino acids are trophic to the intestine, but their role in regulating amino acid transport is not well documented. The presence of several distinct amino acid transport systems raises the question of whether adaptation is class-specific. Studies were carried out in parenterally nourished rats receiving a 7-day jejunal infusion of a 3% solution of either aminoisobutyric acid, aspartic acid, glutamine, histidine, lysine, or valine. While all amino acids were trophic to the intestine, their effects on the in vitro uptake of 0.1, 1.0 and 10.0 mM aspartic acid, lysine, and valine (representative acid, basic, and neutral amino acids) were variable and nonspecific. Compared to controls receiving either total parenteral nutrition alone or total parenteral nutrition plus luminal saline, prior lysine and aspartic acid infusion significantly increased in vitro uptake of all three amino acids tested, whereas valine had little effect on trarisport. No effect on transport was seen with glutamine (actively metabolized by the intestine as is aspartic acid), aminoisobutyric acid (a nonmetabolizable amino acid congener), or histidine (the most trophic amino acid). In conclusion, while individual amino acids cause an adaptation of amino acid Uptake, the effects are nonspecific and independent of their metabolic or trophic potential.
THE SUPPLY SIDE OF THE RACE BETWEEN DEMAND AND SUPPLY: POLICIES TO FOSTER SKILL IN THE MODERN ECONOMY**

In his celebrated book on income inequality, Jan Tinbergen (1975) wrote about the race between demand and supply in determining the evolution of wages and inequality. The demand side of the recent labor market is well understood. Skill-biased technical change favors skilled workers in many different economic environments. The supply side is less well understood. In the Netherlands, until recently, the supply side was winning and the returns to education were declining or stagnant. The exact reasons for this phenomenon are not well understood. Recently, however, there is evidence that suggests that the returns to schooling are increasing and that demand is outstripping supply, as it has done in most developed countries around the world. This has produced rising wage inequality. Unless more active supply side measures are undertaken, this trend is likely to continue. This problem, joined with the persistent problem of immigrant assimilation and the growing role of immigrants in the Dutch economy, renews interest in the supply side of the labor market. This lecture examines the determinants of the supply of skills in the short run and the long run. It examines the roles of short- term credit constraints and long-term family factors in fostering or retarding skill accumulation. It summarizes the evidence on a number of policy proposals to foster skills including early childhood programs, programs to alleviate short-term financial pressure, job training and second chance programs, and tax policies. This lecture stresses the cumulative dynamic nature of skill production and the importance of recognizing that skill begets skill in designing suitable policies to reduce inequality and foster economic growth. While the evidence is based on American data, the lessons are relevant for economies around the world. Specific lessons for the Netherlands are emphasized.
Wrangling distributed computing for high-throughput environmental science: An introduction to HTCondor

Biologists and environmental scientists now routinely solve computational problems that were unimaginable a generation ago. Examples include processing geospatial data, analyzing -omics data, and running large-scale simulations. Conventional desktop computing cannot handle these tasks when they are large, and high-performance computing is not always available nor the most appropriate solution for all computationally intense problems. High-throughput computing (HTC) is one method for handling computationally intense research. In contrast to high-performance computing, which uses a single "supercomputer," HTC can distribute tasks over many computers (e.g., idle desktop computers, dedicated servers, or cloud-based resources). HTC facilities exist at many academic and government institutes and are relatively easy to create from commodity hardware. Additionally, consortia such as Open Science Grid facilitate HTC, and commercial entities sell cloud-based solutions for researchers who lack HTC at their institution. We provide an introduction to HTC for biologists and environmental scientists. Our examples from biology and the environmental sciences use HTCondor, an open source HTC system.
Comprehensive Frailty Severity Index for End‐Stage Liver Disease Predicts Early Outcomes After Liver Transplantation

Background Frailty is rampant in candidates of liver transplantation (LT); however, its impact on posttransplant survival is inconclusive. Most studies have used a single measure of frailty; however, a comprehensive frailty severity index (FSI) has not been developed. The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate frailty utilizing several metrics, (2) develop an FSI for end-stage liver disease (ESLD), and (3) determine its predictive abilities for outcomes after LT. Methods Frailty metrics included (1) modified nutrition assessment of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics/American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition that includes height-adjusted third lumbar vertebra psoas mass index, (2) physical performance assessment combining Karnofsky Performance Status and pressure injury scale, and (3) Controlling Nutritional Status as a measure of severity of liver disease and inflammation. Results Moderate to severe frailty was reported in 52%-97% of recipients depending on the metric. A statistically significant threshold FSI value was identified for each adverse outcome studied. FSI ≥ 14 was associated with decreased survival (88% vs 97% for FSI Conclusions The proposed FSI for ESLD is predictive of poorer outcomes after LT.
Lessons for expert witnesses

Abstract The chapter discusses the legal standards for experts to testify in federal and state court and provides tips for experts as to how to provide helpful testimony and avoid impeachment.
Treatment of Estrogen Levels in the Management of Hypogonadism: An Anonymous Survey of ISSM Members.

Abstract Objective To assess the variability in management of estrogen levels in men treated with testosterone therapy (TTh). With the significant increase in the last 2 decades in the treatment of hypogonadism and the use of TTh, detailed guidelines for the management of estrogen levels are necessary.1 Materials and Methods An anonymous survey was electronically distributed to the membership of the International Society for Sexual Medicine including questions on demographics, symptoms, and their approach to management of estrogen in patients on TTh. Chi-square test was used to determine associations. Results The response rate was 22.5% (489/2168). A total 62.4% of respondents indicated that they check serum estrogen at initial evaluation, but only 54.7% monitor levels in patients on TTh (P = .02). Fellowship-trained and North American respondents were more likely to monitor patients (P Conclusion Approximately 50% of practitioners treating men with TTh monitor estrogen levels. Symptoms play a role in prescribing patterns and significant variability in aromatase inhibitors regimens exists. Increased monitoring of estrogen levels in men on TTh will facilitate an understanding of the symptoms, effects of high and low estrogen levels, and aid in standardization of research and therapy.
Chapter 40 – Ethical Considerations

Human embryonic stem (hES) cell research is ethically controversial because it entails the destruction of human embryos. Here, I consider and discuss a series of key ethical questions associated with this research. These include whether it is morally permissible to destroy a human embryo and whether we should clone human embryos for therapeutic cloning research. I conclude by stating my own position – that hES cell and therapeutic cloning research are both acceptable – and I offer some guidelines for the actual conduct of this research.
Detection of Mammographic Masses by Content-Based Image Retrieval

Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) of mammographic masses is important yet challenging, since masses have large variation in shape and size and are often indistinguishable from surrounding tissue. As an alternative solution, content-based image retrieval (CBIR) techniques can facilitate the diagnosis by finding visually similar cases. However, they still need radiologists to identify suspicious regions in the query case. To overcome the drawbacks of both kinds of methods, we propose a CAD approach that integrates image retrieval with learning-based mass detection. Specifically, a query mammogram is first matched with a database of exemplar masses, getting a series of similarity maps. Then these maps are subtracted by discriminatively learned thresholds to eliminate noise. At last, individual similarity maps are aggregated, and local maxima in the final map are selected as masses. By utilizing a large database, our approach can effectively detect masses despite their variation. Moreover, it bypasses the identification of suspicious regions by radiologists. Experiments are conducted on 500 mammograms randomly selected from the digital database for screening mammography (DDSM) using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The proposed approach achieves a promising ROC area index A z = 0.91, and outperforms two traditional classifier-based CAD methods.
Liquor, marijuana, and guns: essential services or political tools during the Covid-19 pandemic?

Policy responses to the Covid-19 pandemic are important to understanding how some governments have been able to effectively combat the crises. Early efforts by many government leaders included poli...
Malunions of the Hand and Wrist

Malunions of the hand and wrist can result in complicated deformities with subsequent functional difficulties. The complexity of the hand and the requirement for such large arcs of motion for normal function can complicate the evaluation and treatment of these problems. Ultimately each bone malunion is evaluated with an eye toward improving overall pain and function as well as decreasing the likelihood of late complications such as tendon rupture and arthritis. In this chapter, we address several of these unique scenarios as well as the techniques and challenges in treating these complicated problems. Phalanx, metacarpal, carpal, and distal radius malunions are all addressed.
Shareholders' Equity at Pepsico

This case provides instructors with an opportunity to discuss some of the fundamental aspects of a typical public company's shareholders' equity financial reporting and financial disclosures. As such, students are provided with information pertaining to PepsiCo's common stock, preferred stock, stock repurchases, cash dividends, stock splits, and GAAP earnings per share (EPS) versus non-GAAP EPS. In addition, the case also provides an interesting bit of information regarding PepsiCo's 2017 move from the NYSE to the Nasdaq. Excerpt UVA-C-2425 May 28, 2019 Shareholders' Equity at PepsiCo Having just finished her afternoon run, Joan Dunkirk opened a bottle of Aquafina and took a sip to quench her thirst as she sat down to scan the financial news online. She noticed that PepsiCo had released a summary of 2018 results. She skimmed the summary and noted PepsiCo's expectations about dividends and share repurchases for 2019: The Company today announced a 3 percent increase in its annualized dividend per share to $ 3.82 from $ 3.71 per share, effective with the dividend expected to be paid in June 2019. This represents the Company's 47th consecutive annual dividend per share increase….For 2019, the Company expects…total cash returns to shareholders of approximately $ 8 billion, comprised of dividends of approximately $ 5 billion and share repurchases of approximately $ 3 billion. Dunkirk wasn't quite sure why companies would buy back their own stock. She bought stock when it was a good deal, making money on it by either collecting the dividends the company paid and/or holding onto the stock while the stock price increased and then selling it later. But she wasn't sure whether, or how, her logic translated to management's thinking when they decided to buy back a company's stock. . . .
“Neigh Way, Jose”: Posthuman Communication in BoJack Horseman

Reading BoJack Horseman through queer ecologies, I argue that the show relies on posthuman beings to privilege nonnormative modes of relating and knowing. Specifically, the show often highlights the failure of human speech as the best form of communication between humans and animals and instead highlights how we can use vision and touch to know all beings, humans and non-humans. Ultimately, I argue that the show uses posthuman and interspecies relationships to embrace queer aesthetics, reject heteronormativity and speciesism, and ask us to think more deeply about what it means to live alongside human and non-human beings.
Auditory disorders in the classroom: A guide for speech language pathologists, audiologists and educators: edited by Alan Gertner, Springfield, IL, Charles C Thomas Publisher, Ltd., 2020, 210 pp., $37.95 (paperback), ISBN 978-0-398-09350-1

Auditory Disorders in the Classroom is a collection of chapters written by different authors with the goal of providing school personnel with information to better serve children who are deaf and c...
Impact of strength and balance on Functional Gait Assessment performance in older adults.

Abstract Background The Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) evaluates postural stability in gait and predicts fall risk in older adults. Individual tasks within the FGA consider aspects of mobility assumed to require strength and/or balance to complete. Identifying how quantitative measures of strength and balance relate to FGA would allow for more targeted interventions based on one’s pattern of performance on different tasks. Research Question Is performance on the FGA (total score and individual task scores) related to measures of strength and balance in healthy older adults? Methods In a cross-sectional study, healthy older adults (N=46) were evaluated with the FGA, measures of knee extensor strength, and balance (static stance and weight shifting) (N=46). Correlational analyses were performed between FGA scores (total and individual) and measures of strength and balance. Results Total FGA performance was positively correlated with knee extensor strength (maximum torque and rate of torque development). Individual FGA tasks of walking backwards (task 9) and stair climbing (task 10) had the highest correlations with strength measures. Total FGA performance was correlated with reduced postural sway in static balance tasks, but not with balance performance on the weight shifting tasks. The individual FGA task that challenged proprioceptive (task 7) inputs for balance was associated with static balance. Significance The total FGA score is related to domains of strength and static balance. The results indicate that the FGA can be influenced by reduced strength and balance. The pattern of performance on individual FGA tasks may indicate whether reduced postural stability in gait is related to deficits in strength or balance domains in this older population.
Effects of gender on income and family planning for diplomates of the American College of Zoological Medicine.

Objective To evaluate income and family planning decisions of American College of Zoological Medicine (ACZM) diplomates. Sample 98 ACZM diplomates. Procedures An online survey was sent to 201 ACZM diplomates. Participation was voluntary. Results 98 (49%) diplomates responded to the survey. The most commonly reported income categories were $90,000 to $94,999, $100,000 to $104,999, and $110,000 to $114,999. Overall, the mean of the salary-category midpoint responses was $105,357 but was $122,917 for those in academia and $94,508 for those working in zoos and aquaria. When incomes of males and females were matched (24 pairs matched for gender and age), no difference in income was observed. There were no significant differences in income between males and females with and without children. Diplomates who did not complete a residency had significantly higher incomes than diplomates who did. Sixteen of 21 (76%) females and 9 of 19 (47%) males reported delaying having children because of their career. Additionally, a higher percentage of females with children (13/20 [65%]) than males with children (3/19 [16%]) felt that having children had had a negative effect on their career. Thirty-five of 41 (85%) females without children and 4 of 9 (44%) males without children thought having children would have negatively affected their careers. Clinical relevance Although substantial differences in income between female and male ACZM diplomates were not identified, differences in family planning and perceptions of the impact of having children on their careers did exist.
A Review of Certain Analysis Methods for Swept-Wing Structures

TURING THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, t h e p r a c t i c a l importance of methods for the structural analysis of swept wings has been indicated by the growingnumber of papers relating to this problem. While GALCIT has been primarily concerned with the fundamental problems in thick-skin and solid-wing analysis, f it has been necessary to examine and investigate to some extent the more prevalent stiffened sheet construction. On the basis of this combined experience, it seemed desirable to review the published, work in this field to date and. a t t empt to point out the major analysis deficiencies t ha t are believed still to exist.
Therapeutic Strategies in Alzheimer’s Disease

A substantial amount of evidence has implicated defects in energy metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (Beal, 1992). Several studies have utilized positron emission tomography (PET) to show that a decrease in glucose metabolism occurs in parietal and temporal cortex early in the course of AD (Duara et al., 1986; Haxby et al., 1986). There is high metabolic rate for oxygen relative to glucose consistent with impaired glucose utilization. Furthermore, a recent study has demonstrated an increase in organic phosphate relative to phosphocreatine using phosphorous nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (Smith et al., 1995).