cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ontogeny of foraging behavior in wild vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops): social interactions and survival

The ontogeny of feeding behavior was explored by making observations of 32 vervet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops) infants in Amboseli National Park, Kenya. In contrast to adults and juveniles, infants appear to treat all primary food products in their diet as equally valuable. These age-related differences may reflect differences in food preference. To assess social influences, feeding synchrony between mother and infant was explored. From birth to 2 months, infants typically fed asynchronously with respect to their mother's feeding bouts. From 2 to 12 months, however, most infants fed at the same time and on the same food items as their mothers. Among infants, there was a significant positive association between the proportion of synchronous, same food bouts and the probability of survival. Variation among infants in access to resources and encounter rates with predators did not, however, have a significant effect on survival.
Treatment of migraine headache after ocular surgery with intravenous metoclopramide hydrochloride.

Purpose To alert ophthalmologists that prolonged or severe postoperative periocular pain and nausea may be caused by migraine. Methods We examined two patients who had a history of migraine and had severe episodes of prolonged periocular pain and nausea after ocular procedures. Both patients experienced symptoms similar to their previous migraine attacks. In neither was pain alleviated by routine analgesics. Results Each patient had relief of symptoms within two minutes after intravenous delivery of metoclopramide hydrochloride. Conclusions Ophthalmologists should consider the diagnosis of postoperative migraine in similar patients and provide specific therapy such as intravenous metoclopramide hydrochloride.
How to Read a Chemical Research Report

An intensive reading of a research report is a three-step process. The first is an analytic reading, in which the aim is to separate the paper into parts that can be understood. The second is an interpretive reading, in which understanding is derived by building the author's sentences into propositions and arguments. The third reading is critical, in which strengths and weaknesses of the paper are identified. Thinking, more than word-for-word perusal, marks the second and third readings.
The Possible Cancer Chemopreventive Activity of Spice Ginger

Abstract Ginger extract and its active principles, gingerol and shogaol, were tested in a different model system for their antimutagenicity activity. Salmonella/microsome is a short-term assay developed to detect human carcinogens as mutagens were used for these studies. Ginger extract, gingerol and shogaol in a two model system, inhibited the formation of mutagenic glucose + lysine in TA100 without metabolic activation (S9mix) and glucose + lysine + creatinine pyrolysates in TA98 with S9mix. The observed inhibition of mutagenicity by gingerol and shogaol is by direct interaction. Ginger extract, gingerol and shogaol also inhibited the formation of mutagenic nitroso-compounds from dried fish extract and nitrite at pH2.0. Ginger extract, gingerol and shogaol dose dependently inhibited aflatoxin and benzo(a) pyrene (BP)-induced mutagenicity in TA98 with S9mix. Ginger extract, gingerol and shogaol lowered the excretion of urinary mutagens in BP fed mice. In the same animal there was a decrease in DNA damage ...
Hubble Space Telescope Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph Search for an Atmosphere on Callisto: A Jovian Unipolar Inductor

Hubble Space Telescope observations of Callisto with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph were performed at both eastern and western elongations to search for the UV emissions diagnostic of the presence of O2, CO2, and/or CO atmospheres. We report upper limits of 5 × 10-5 photons cm-2 s-1 or 15 R for a uniform disk the diameter of Callisto on emissions of O I λ1304, O I λ1356, C I λ1561, C II λ1335, and CO fourth positive bands. These upper limits yield upper bounds on O2, CO2, and CO atmospheres far in excess of the detected CO2 atmosphere by R. W. Carlson. Our results are interpreted in terms of a strong electrodynamic interaction with the Jovian magnetosphere, which drives ~1.5 × 105 A through Callisto's highly conducting (~104 mho) ionosphere and generates a highly reduced ionospheric electric field, severely retarded ionospheric convection (~0.1 km s-1), and a factor of ~1500 reduction in the net electron impact emission rate. Callisto's highly conducting ionosphere renders it the most tenable unipolar inductor of the Galilean satellites.
Correlation of Rainfall with the Texas Catch of White Shrimp, Penaeus Setiferus (Linnaeus)

Abstract The young of the white shrimp, Penaeus setiferus (Linnaeus), grow up in estuarine waters the salinity of which is governed by rainfall. The Texas shrimp fishery was well started by 1927. From that time until 1936, catches were relatively low. The fishery underwent a period of growth and high-level catches have been obtained from 1937 to the present. During that period the annual catch in pounds of any one year shows a correlation coefficient of 0.883 with the State's average rainfall of the same year and 2 previous years. Essentially, there were 2 blocks of dry years with a period of wet years between, during which the catches were low and high, respectively. Decline of the white shrimp catch has been sharp with the recent drouth, but it is expected to rise when the drouth breaks. Whether the correlation is directly with salinity per se or some unknown factor governed by salinity is not known.
Parallel processing of relational databases on a cellular tree machine

This paper investigates the use of a cellular tree computer, the FFP machine, for parallel processing of relational databases. This machine directly executes Formal Functional Programming (FFP) code. A method to embed SQL statements in FFP programs is described. Schemes for parallel implementation of simple retrieval statements are presented for different I/O architectures. Then techniques for parallel implementation of more complex retrieval statements are given. Because the FFP machine can accommodate the almost unbounded parallelism of FFP programs, execution time analysis shows potential for highly efficient execution of relational database queries on this machine. Modifications of the FFP machine to speed up input/output operations are discussed.
The Effect of Vitamin D on Falls: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Context: Vitamin D affects bone and muscle health and likely reduces the risk of falls in the elderly. Objective: The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the existing evidence on vitamin D use and the risk of falls. Data Sources: We searched electronic databases from inception through August 2010. Study Selection: Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials in which the intervention was vitamin D and the incidence of falls was reported. Data Extraction: Reviewers working in duplicate and independently extracted study characteristics, quality, and outcomes data. Data Synthesis: Odds ratio and associated 95% confidence interval were estimated from each study and pooled using the random effects model. Results: We found 26 eligible trials of moderate quality that enrolled 45,782 participants, the majority of which were elderly and female. Vitamin D use was associated with statistically significant reduction in the risk of falls (odds ratio for suffering at least one fall, 0.86; 95% confidence...
Leach Models for a Commercial Nuclear Waste Glass

A review of the leaching behavior of 76–68 glass shows that it cannot be explained in terms of diffusion in the glass, which has been the basis for several leach models. Instead, we present two models based on a dissolution rate impeded by surface processes: the accumulation of a protective layer of insoluble reaction products, and adsorption of reaction products on the surface. The resulting predicted time dependences are identical and predict a change from linear to parabolic rate laws for soluble species, which is found to agree with the data over a range of temperatures. Incongruent release is attributed primarily to solubility effects. The relative merits of the models are discussed on the basis of the effect of surface area-to-volume ratio in static leach tests. Their relevance to modeling repository behavior is discussed.
Efficient region tracking with parametric models of geometry and illumination

As an object moves through the field of view of a camera, the images of the object may change dramatically. This is not simply due to the translation of the object across the image plane; complications arise due to the fact that the object undergoes changes in pose relative to the viewing camera, in illumination relative to light sources, and may even become partially or fully occluded. We develop an efficient general framework for object tracking, which addresses each of these complications. We first develop a computationally efficient method for handling the geometric distortions produced by changes in pose. We then combine geometry and illumination into an algorithm that tracks large image regions using no more computation than would be required to track with no accommodation for illumination changes. Finally, we augment these methods with techniques from robust statistics and treat occluded regions on the object as statistical outliers. Experimental results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of our methods.
Efficient web change monitoring with page digest

The Internet and the World Wide Web have enabled a publishing explosion of useful online information, which has produced the unfortunate side effect of information overload: it is increasingly difficult for individuals to keep abreast of fresh information. In this paper we describe an approach for building a system for efficiently monitoring changes to Web documents. This paper has three main contributions. First, we present a coherent framework that captures different characteristics of Web documents. The system uses the Page Digest encoding to provide a comprehensive monitoring system for content, structure, and other interesting properties of Web documents. Second, the Page Digest encoding enables improved performance for individual page monitors through mechanisms such as short-circuit evaluation, linear time algorithms for document and structure similarity, and data size reduction. Finally, we develop a collection of sentinel grouping techniques based on the Page Digest encoding to reduce redundant processing in large-scale monitoring systems by grouping similar monitoring requests together. We examine how effective these techniques are over a wide range of parameters and have seen an order of magnitude speed up over existing Web-based information monitoring systems.
Recovery from galactose-induced neurotoxicity in the chick by the administration of glucose.

— Chicks fed a diet containing 40% (w/w) galactose demonstrated convulsive activity after 52–54 h. However, they recovered from both physical and biochemical symptoms temporarily, following the intraperitoneal injection of glucose. The previously decreased levels of ATP and elevated levels of AMP in the brains of chicks fed galactose returned to normal within 20 min following the glucose treatment. During the recovery phase, plasma glucose content rose and brain glucose returned to the normal range, whereas the levels of brain galactose and its metabolites, galactitol and galactose 1-phosphate, were unchanged. Moderate plasma hyperasmolality was induced in chicks fed the diet containing galactose and xylose or saline in the drinking water. Neurotoxicity was observed only in the group fed galactose, although brain glucose and glycogen were reduced in chicks fed xylose. In the brains of chicks fed xylose, xylitol was identified by gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, and the amount was approximately 10 per cent of the amount of xylose simultaneously found in the brain. These studies support the viewpoint that dietary galactose exerts its acute neurotoxicity in chicks primarily by inhibition of glucose transport across the blood-brain barrier.
An Alternative Interpretation of Three Stability Models.

Wilcox (1977) describes three probability models which characterize a single test item in terms of a population of examinees. The purpose of this note is to indicate that similar models can be derived which characterize a single examinee in terms of an item domain. A numerical illustration is given which shows how our models might be used to adjust observed scores when comparing examinees.
Divine attitudes, divine commands, and the modal status of moral truths

This essay presents a theistic account of deontic properties that can lay claim to many of the advantages of divine command theory but which avoids its flaws. The account, divine attitude theory, asserts that moral properties should be understood in terms of divine attitudes, such that an action is morally wrong just in case God would be displeased with the performance of that action. Among the virtues of this account is its ability to explain the modal status of fundamental moral truths, something that divine command theory cannot do.
Comparing relations with a multi-holed region

Relation models have treated multi-holed regions relations either the same as hole-free regions relations, loosing this way the peculiarities of the holed topology, or with methods dependent on the number of holes. This paper discusses a model of relations between a hole-free and a multi-holed region that departs from past approaches by using the frequencies of the relations in which the holes participate to summarize the relation. The model is independent of the number of holes and builds on the 23 topological relations between a hole-free and a single-holed region. With the help of a balanced algorithm the relation model is used in a method that compares relations for their topological similarity, by computing the cost of transforming one relation into the other. The placement of the holes in relation to the hole-free region is found to be of same importance as the placement of the host of the holes, for similarity comparisons.
Panel: Has theory brought anything to database systems and will it in the future?

This panel will fan the flames of the continuing arguments between Database Theory and Database Systems. To hear each side tell it, database theorists are frustrated mathematicians who wouldn't know a buffer pool if they fell in it, while database system ( researchers are ignorant hackers who couldn't care less for correctness, as long as their benchmarks run fast. The panel will consist of an advocate and an apologist for database theory and for database systems. They will debate the past contributions of database theory to the development of database systems and the relevance o£ current theory to the real problems facing systems developers. The panelists will also try to divine the future and predict what will be the next hot areas for theoretical investigations and which areas of database systems would benefit most from application o£ theory. Among the questions that the panelists might choose to ignore are:
Dietary Retinoic Acid Alters Vitamin A Kinetics in Both the Whole Body and in Specific Organs of Rats with Low Vitamin A Status

To study the effects of exogenous retinoic acid on vitamin A (VA) metabolism, we analyzed previously collected tracer kinetic data on VA dynamics in rats with low vitamin A (LA) status either with (LA+RA) or without (LA) retinoic acid supplementation. In spite of low VA intake ( approximately 7 nmol/d), the LA+RA rats were in a slight positive VA balance (0.325 nmol/d vs. -0.168 for LA) for 35 d after administration of [(3)H]retinol-labeled plasma. Using the Windows version of the Simulation, Analysis and Modeling software, we determined that the VA disposal rate was lower in LA+RA than in LA rats (3.98 vs. 5.00 nmol/d) as was the system fractional catabolic rate (0.0548 vs. 0.110 d(-1)). Model-predicted traced mass and residence times (the average time that a molecule of retinol spends in an organ before irreversible loss) were higher for liver (19.4 vs. 1.8 nmol; 5.0 vs. 0.36 d), kidneys (7.0 vs. 2.1 nmol; 1.4 vs. 0.42 d), small intestine (2.1 vs. 0.42 nmol; 0.43 vs. 0.084 d), and lungs (3.2 vs. 0.10 nmol; 1.6 vs. 0.021 d) in the LA+RA compared with the LA rats; there were no major differences for eyes, testes, adrenal glands, or remaining carcass. We conclude that RA supplementation of rats with low VA status affects VA metabolism at both the whole-body level and in specific organs. These organs (liver, kidneys, small intestine, and lungs) have the enzymatic capability and an appropriate cell type to store retinyl esters.
Development and outcomes of a community-based intervention to improve parents' use of inquiry in informal learning contexts

Abstract The development and evaluation of a parenting intervention based on Sigel's distancing theory and conceptualization of intervention processes is described. An iterative program development strategy was comprised of 3 studies: (1) Results of interviews with lower-income parents of Grades 1–4 children regarding views of children's futures and approaches to learning at home and school informed decisions about program content; (2) Observation and interview data from a multi-site implementation of a preliminary program curriculum contributed to revisions of the intervention; (3) A short-term experimental study of the program with a diverse population of parents in 5 communities revealed modest positive intervention effects on child participation in daily family routines, parent use of inquiry and incorporation of the child's perspective in problem-solving situations, and parent beliefs about influences on children's school achievement. Findings point to the promise of employing distancing strategies in a discussion group intervention to promote parents' use of inquiry in routine interactions with their children.
Association of procedure length on outcomes and adverse events of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Objective: The aims of this study were to determine the effects of length of procedure on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) outcomes and adverse events. Methods: All ERCP procedures, performed by experienced advanced endoscopists, in patients without prior papillary intervention from 2006 to 2008 were reviewed. Procedures were arbitrarily divided into two groups: shorter procedures (SP), with a duration shorter than the overall mean procedure length, and longer procedures (LP), with a duration longer than overall mean procedure length. Length of procedure was defined as the time from endoscope insertion to endoscope removal. Results: Two hundred and ninety-five procedures were included in the analysis. Mean procedure length was 45.6 ± 30.1 min. One hundred and seventy-seven procedures (60%) were SP and 118 (40%) were LP. There were no differences between the groups with regard to patients’ ages, genders, race, or trainee participation. SP cases were more likely to be biliary vs pancreatic or bi-ductal evaluations (P = 0.03). LP had significantly higher complexity scores (34% with >3 vs 13%; P = 0.046) and were more likely to require pre-cut papillotomy (39% vs 15%; P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups in overall completion rates (91.5% LP vs 96% SP; P = 0.10) or adverse events (10.2% LP vs 6.2% SP; P = 0.21). However, LP cases were associated with higher rates of post-ERCP bleeding (4.2% vs 0.6%; P = 0.029). Conclusion: There was no significant difference in outcomes or overall adverse events between shorter and longer ERCP procedures. However, longer procedures were associated with higher procedure complexity, higher utilization of pre-cut technique, and increased risk of bleeding.
Vehicle Change and Reconstruction in Ā-Chains

Fiengo and May (1994) argue that what they call “vehicle change,” which permits copies of names to be evaluated as pronouns with respect to interpretive principles, plays a key role in accounting for reconstruction effects in ellipsis environments. It is argued here that the alleviation of Principle C violations (“antire construction effects”), where it occurs in Ā-chains, is due not to deletion of the lower copy, as in Chomsky 1995, but to vehicle change. The introduction of vehicle change into the theory of Ā-chains is independently motivated as essential to capturing a robust adjunct/nonadjunct distinction in the reconstruction of pronoun-as-bound-variable readings that has not been discussed up to now; at the same time it predicts the class of “weakest crossover” environments.
The Numbers Are In Statins for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Women

In this issue of Circulation , Mora et al demonstrate for the first time that statins are effective for the primary prevention of cardiovascular events in women.1 Under a prespecified analysis, the authors examined sex-specific outcomes in JUPITER (Justification for the Use of statins in Prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin), which enrolled 6801 women ≥60 years old and 11 001 men ≥50 years old without prior history of coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, or stroke who had low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) <130 mg/dL and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) ≥2.0 mg/L.2 Article see p 1069 Patients were randomized to receive rosuvastatin 20 mg daily versus placebo and were followed up for a median of only 2 years—a remarkably short period—because the trial was terminated early owing to the identification of significant benefit with treatment in the overall study population. The results from the subgroup analysis in the article by Mora et al indicate a statistically significant relative risk reduction in women for the primary end point of myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina, arterial revascularization, or cardiovascular death, which was similar to the reduction seen in men (hazard ratio 0.54, P =0.002 versus 0.58, P <0.001, respectively). To put their findings in appropriate context, the authors also included in their article a meta-analysis of 5 exclusively or predominately primary prevention trials of statins that reported sex-specific outcomes.2–7 The total number of women in the 3 exclusively primary prevention trials (JUPITER, Primary Prevention of Acute Coronary Events With Lovastatin in Men and Women With Average Cholesterol Levels: Results of Air Force/Texas Coronary Atherosclerosis Prevention Study [AFCAPS/TexCAPS], and Usefulness of Pravastatin in Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in Women: Analysis of the Management of Elevated Cholesterol in the Primary Prevention Group of Adult Japanese [MEGA]) was 13 154, …
Parametric Analysis of fMRI Data Using Linear Systems Methods

Using a model of the functional MRI (fMRI) impulse response based on published data, we have demonstrated that the form of the fMRI response to stimuli of freely varied timing can be modeled well by convolution of the impulse response with the behavioral stimulus. The amplitudes of the responses as a function of parametrically varied behavioral conditions are fitted well using a piecewise linear approximation. Use of the combined model, in conjunction with correlation analysis, results in an increase in sensitivity for the MRI study. This approach, based on the well-established methods of linear systems analysis, also allows a quantitative comparison of the response amplitudes across subjects to a broad range of behavioral conditions. Fit parameters, derived from the amplitude data, are relatively insensitive to a variety of MRI-related artifacts and yield results that are compared readily across subjects. r1997Academic Press
The Ego Tunnel: The Science of the Mind and the Myth of the Self

We're used to thinking about the self as an independent entity, something that we either have or are. In The Ego Tunnel, philosopher Thomas Metzinger claims otherwise: No such thing as a self exists. The conscious self is the content of a model created by our brain--an internal image, but one we cannot experience as an image. Everything we experience is "a virtual self in a virtual reality." But if the self is not "real," why and how did it evolve? How does the brain construct it? Do we still have souls, free will, personal autonomy, or moral accountability? In a time when the science of cognition is becoming as controversial as evolution, The Ego Tunnel provides a stunningly original take on the mystery of the mind.
Low-Power Dynamic Memory Word Line Decoding for Static Random Access Memories

Conventional memory address decoders based on static CMOS gates incur high clock loading and unnecessary power dissipation in unselected banks. This paper presents a dynamic word line decoder which is fast, has reduced active and leakage power dissipation, and also enables faster race-free sense timing. In a multi-bank memory array with sixteen decoders, the energy-delay product of the dynamic decoder is 66% lower than a low-power static version. The design leverages the predictability of dynamic circuits to provide significant decoder leakage reduction in unselected banks. The dynamic decoder has been fabricated on a 90 nm bulk CMOS process. The measured test chip address to word line delay is 170 ps at 1.5 V and the measured leakage reduction is over 20x at V DD greater than 0.8 V.
The stability of small amplitude Rossby waves in a channel

The breakdown of Rossby waves in a bounded system is studied for the case in which the wave amplitude is small. In a very long, laterally bounded, channel all waves are unstable via second-order resonant interactions except those of wavenumber π/L in the cross-channel direction (where L is the channel width), which are stable if their longitudinal wavenumber is greater than 0·681π/L. These waves are, however, unstable to weaker side-band interactions, so that all waves with non-zero longitudinal wavenumber are unstable. The transition from sideband to triad instability occurs where the group velocity of the basic wave is equal to the velocity of long waves.
Pseudotumors of the placenta

The placenta is one of the most common gross pathology specimens encountered by surgical pathologists, yet primary tumors are exceptionally rare and even rarer are entities with the potential to mimic malignancy. There are many nonneoplasticmass forming lesions in the placenta that are important to be aware of as many of these can be associated with adverse outcomes in the mother and fetus. Also important are entities which may be observed microscopically in the placenta and potentially confused as a malignancy. Knowledge of these potential pitfalls is essential to avoid making an incorrect diagnosis and causing undue alarm.
Probing nanoscale objects in liquids through membranes with near-field microwave microscopy

In this work, scanning near-field microwave imaging was implemented to test the feasibility of the approach for in-situ studies of nanoscale objects immersed in liquids under thin dielectric membranes. It was found that mechanical strength and stability of SiN membranes on Si frames are sufficient for contact mode imaging in a standard AFM setup. Model polystyrene particles immersed in glycerol in contact with the membrane from the cavity side could be reliably detected. The probing depth of this imaging mode can be estimated to be approximately 100 nm.
Conceptual Aspects of Altruism in Cross-Cultural Contexts

Smith and Smith claimed that altruistic action “is intended to benefit others beyond simple sociability or duties associated with role.” This definition will need to be carefully applied to behavior in communal cultures because they have extended obligation networks, the basis of which are expected helping behaviors offered to others in the network. Therefore, behaviors that would be seen as altruistic in an individualistic culture would not necessarily be seen similarly in a communal culture, where they may be nonvoluntary and role related. We address five components of altruistic behavior here, and three of these are predicted to differ according to the culture in which they are enacted: whether the act was motivated by a primary concern for the other, whether the actor would be likely to engage in self-blame or be socially censured if he or she did not engage in the action, and the benefits to the recipient. The other two components of altruistic behavior are postulated to operate pan-culturally. These components are empathy and cost to the initiator.
Video Verification: An Alternative form of Identify Verification

Abstract Voting in the United States is a constitutional right, allowing citizens to voice concerns involving policies and laws. It is an essential civil liberty, in which the modification of voter laws can affect over 206 million eligible voters. Since 2008, more than half of the States in the U.S.A. have or are in the process of implementing voter ID laws. These laws have introduced many problems associated with identification credentials, including non-photo voter IDs and photo IDs that are required to vote. If all these new laws are passed, it is predicted that millions of Americans will be disenfranchised, making it more difficult for eligible voters to cast ballots. This paper introduces an identity verification method called video verification (vSquared). vSquared is a tool that uses a video of a person stating their name and address to verify identify claims. In this experiment, the identity verification methods included the use of a person presenting a voter ID card (without photo), a photo ID card, and using vSquared. Each of these three methods had a real condition where the person and matching ID were all legitimate and also a fraudulent condition where impersonation was involved. Each participant had to verify the identity of three different individuals, where some of the individuals represented real conditions while others were impersonating someone else. Participants in the study played the role analogous to a poll worker and had to say if they thought the condition was real or fraudulent. This is similar to the scenario where a poll worker would have to verify an individual's identity prior to voting in an election. The experiment aimed to identify the major differences in recognition rates, if any, for the current verification methods (voter ID and photo ID) against each other and also vSquared. Based on this research, vSquared detected fraud at least 70% more accurately than a non-photo voter ID or photo ID. Although, both the photo ID and vSquared identifying methods were proficient when identifying conditions that were considered to be legitimate IDs, 72% of participants preferred vSquared as a more accurate method for identity verification.
The Role of Mathematical Modeling in Designing and Evaluating Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs

Antimicrobial agent effectiveness continues to be threatened by the rise and spread of pathogen strains that exhibit drug resistance. This challenge is most acute in healthcare facilities where the well-established connection between resistance and suboptimal antimicrobial use has prompted the creation of antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs). Mathematical models offer tremendous potential for serving as an alternative to controlled human experimentation for assessing the effectiveness of ASPs. Models can simulate controlled randomized experiments between groups of virtual patients, some treated with the ASP measure under investigation, and some without. By removing the limitations inherent in human experimentation, including health risks, study cohort size, possible number of replicates, and effective study duration, model simulations can provide valuable information to inform decisions regarding the design of new ASPs, as well as evaluation and improvement of existing ASPs. To date, the potential of mathematical modeling methods in evaluating ASPs is largely untapped and much work remains to be done to leverage this potential.
“Cascade-Raman” soliton compression with 30-fs, Terawatt pulses

Theoretically, Raman-like soliton compression of mJ, 30-fs pulses is predicted. Initial experiments demonstrate 2 times compression of 1.3 TW/cm2 pulses under non-optimal conditions. The results agree closely with numerical simulations.
Fire risk assessment of high-rise buildings based on grey relational analysis

In order to investigate the fire risk of high-rise buildings,the assessment index system including evacuation system,fire-proof capacities of buildings,fire-fighting capacities,fire rescue facilities and safety management was established based on the characters of fire development in high-rise buildings.By analyzing the grey relational degrees between each comparative sequence and the reference sequences,the risk ratings of each factor and the whole system were obtained according to the grey incidence matrix.A case study of No.728 teachers' apartment in Jiaozhou Road Shanghai Jing-an District was conducted with this method,and the results accorded well with the facts.It proved that valuable fire risk assessment results and weak links can be obtained by this scientific grey relational method.They are of significant guidance to the design of fire protection and daily safety management for high-rise buildings.
Field Testing and Research of Fireside Corrosion Resistance of Advanced Materials in Ultra-Supercritical Coal-Fired Power Plants

Through field testing,the fireside corrosion resistance of candidate materials for use in ultra-supercritical boilers were evaluated.These materials include high strength ferritic steels,austenitic stainless steels,and high-nickel alloys.Firstly,the materials were screened by laboratory testing.Then promising materials were assembled on air-cooled,retractable corrosion probes for field test.Three utiity boilers,equipped with low NOx burners,were identified that have adequate flue gas temperatures and represent three kinds of representative coal types.After one year exposure in the field,the fireside corrosion probes of two of the boilers vere examed and evaluated.
Inhibitory GABA signaling as a novel target for the prevention and therapy of pulmonary and pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

B203 Pulmonary adenocarcinoma (PAC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are among the most common human malignancies and are highly resistant to conventional cancer therapy. We have shown that both cancers respond to beta-adrenergic stimulation by cAMP-dependent signaling via PKA/CREB and PKA-dependent transactivation of the EGFR, resulting in stimulation of cell proliferation and migration and that the tobacco carcinogen NNK activates these signaling cascades. Our current data show that the neurotransmitter gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA) completely abrogates this cAMP-dependent proliferation and migration of PAC and PDAC cells and their normal cells of origin (small airway epithelial cells and pancreatic duct epithelial cells). These effects of GABA were mediated by the Galphai-coupled GABA-B receptor as evidenced by GABA-B knockdown in Western blots and luciferase reporter assays for the identification of activated CREB and ERK1/2 and also reduced base level proliferation of the unstimulated cancer cells significantly. GABA was underexpressed in tissue microarrays from human PACs and PDACs while beta-adrenergic signaling was overexpressed. Our findings suggest that an imbalance in stimulatory beta-adrenergic and inhbitory GABA-B signaling contributes to the aggressive behaviour of a significant subset of PACs and PDACs. Restoration of this disturbed balance by treatment with GABA or GABA-B agonists appears to offer a promising new target for the prevention and adjuvant therapy of PAC and PDAC.
Implementing a wide-area network at a naval air station: a stakeholder analysis

The Naval Air Systems Team is an organization wishing to capitalize on the benefits derived from connecting geographic stakeholders using wide–area network technologies. The introduction of common email, file transfer, and directory services among these organizations is envisioned as a significant enabler to improve the quality of their aggregate product. At the same time this organization has decided to transform itself from a traditional functionally hierarchic organization to a competency based organization. The new model introduces a modified matrix organization consisting of integrated program teams at twenty–two geographically separate sites in the United States. This case study illustrates the use of a non–traditional approach to determine the requirements for the Naval Air Systems Team Wide–Area Network (NAVWAN). It is considered to be non– traditional because the case data enable the use of Stakeholder Analysis and SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) assessments to determine the requirements instead of asking functional proponents about function and data requirements. This is an action planning case. The case objective is to apply these methodologies and an understanding of organizational change to developing an action plan recommendation for implementation of a wide–area network. Susan Page Hocevar is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Systems Management at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. , where she teaches courses in organization and management to military officers earning a graduate degree. Her research and publications are in the areas of organization change, high involvement organizations, organizational reward systems, self–managed teams, organizational culture, quality of work life, and corporate social responsibility.
Mysteries of the Sun

The Sun is the only star that we can really see. Other stars are detected by the diffraction pattern they produce in a telescope, rather than as a tangible object – most of them could be tetrahedra and we would be none the wiser. But the Sun is a star that is close enough for us to study its surface in detail and to probe its depths with neutrino detectors and helioseismology. As such, it is perhaps the most mysterious object in the sky, and it remains the ultimate challenge to astrophysics.
The HOSPITAL score as a predictor of 30 day readmission in a retrospective study at a university affiliated community hospital.

INTRODUCTION Hospital readmissions are common, expensive, and a key target of the Medicare Value Based Purchasing (VBP) program. Risk assessment tools have been developed to identify patients at high risk of hospital readmission so they can be targeted for interventions aimed at reducing the rate of readmission. One such tool is the HOSPITAL score that uses seven readily available clinical variables to predict the risk of readmission within 30 days of discharge. The HOSPITAL score has been internationally validated in large academic medical centers. This study aims to determine if the HOSPITAL score is similarly useful in a moderate sized university affiliated hospital in the midwestern United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS All adult medical patients discharged from the SIU-SOM Hospitalist service from Memorial Medical Center (MMC) from October 15, 2015 to March 16, 2016, were studied retrospectively to determine if the HOSPITAL score was a significant predictor of hospital readmission within 30 days. RESULTS During the study period, 998 discharges were recorded for the hospitalist service. The analysis includes data for the 931 discharges. Patients who died during the hospital stay, were transferred to another hospital, or left against medical advice were excluded. Of these patients, 109 (12%) were readmitted to the same hospital within 30 days. The patients who were readmitted were more likely to have a length of stay greater than or equal to 5 days (55% vs. 41%, p = 0.005) and were more likely to have been admitted more than once to the hospital within the last year (100% vs. 49%, p < 0.001). A receiver operating characteristic evaluation of the HOSPITAL score for this patient population shows a C statistic of 0.77 (95% CI [0.73-0.81]), indicating good discrimination for hospital readmission. The Brier score for the HOSPITAL score in this setting was 0.10, indicating good overall performance. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test shows a χ (2) value of 1.63 with a p value of 0.20. DISCUSSION This single center retrospective study indicates that the HOSPITAL score has good discriminatory ability to predict hospital readmissions within 30 days for a medical hospitalist service at a university-affiliated hospital. This data for all causes of hospital readmission is comparable to the discriminatory ability of the HOSPITAL score in the international validation study (C statistics of 0.72 vs. 0.77) conducted at considerably larger hospitals (975 average beds vs. 507 at MMC) for potentially avoidable hospital readmissions. CONCLUSIONS The internationally validated HOSPITAL score may be a useful tool in moderate sized community hospitals to identify patients at high risk of hospital readmission within 30 days. This easy to use scoring system using readily available data can be used as part of interventional strategies to reduce the rate of hospital readmission.
Machine Learning: Multi-site Evidence-Based Best Practice Discovery

This study establishes interoperability among electronic medical records from 737 healthcare sites and performs machine learning for best practice discovery. A mapping algorithm is designed to disambiguate free text entries and to provide a unique and unified way to link content to structured medical concepts despite the extreme variations that can occur during clinical diagnosis documentation. Redundancy is reduced through concept mapping. A SNOMED-CT graph database is created to allow for rapid data access and queries. These integrated data can be accessed through a secured web-based portal. A classification model (DAMIP) is then designed to uncover discriminatory characteristics that can predict the quality of treatment outcome. We demonstrate system usability by analyzing Type II diabetic patients. DAMIP establishes a classification rule on a training set which results in greater than 80% blind predictive accuracy on an independent set of patients. By including features obtained from structured concept mapping, the predictive accuracy is improved to over 88%. The results facilitate evidence-based treatment and optimization of site performance through best practice dissemination and knowledge transfer.
The 3D Inverse Electromagnetic Scattering Problem for a Coated Dielectric

We use the linear sampling method to determine the shape and surface conductivity of a partially coated dielectric from a knowledge of the far field pattern of the scattered electromagnetic wave at fixed frequency. A mathematical justification of the method is provided for the full 3D vector case based on the use of a complete family of solutions. Numerical examples are given.
TRANSBRONCHIAL NEEDLE ASPIRATION AND PERCUTANEOUS NEEDLE ASPIRATION FOR STAGING AND DIAGNOSIS OF LUNG CANCER

In summary, knowledge of the exact location of lymph nodes in mediastinum and hilar areas and their relationship to the puncture site of TBNA is the first step to a successful TBNA. The necessity to determine the N3 status and multistation status of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma being evaluated for surgery and the current financial restraint of the medical care system further highlight the potential of this simple, effective, and safe procedure. TBNA can markedly enhance the diagnostic yield of flexible bronchoscopy. TBNA and PCNA are complimentary procedures.
Treatment of social cognition in schizophrenia: Current status and future directions

Efforts to develop psychosocial interventions that specifically target social cognition in schizophrenia spectrum disorders began nearly two decades ago. The field has matured considerably since then and has engendered a great deal of optimism about this treatment approach. Indeed, the efficacy of social cognitive interventions, especially those that address multiple domains of social cognition, has received substantial support. This article critically evaluates the current evidence for social cognitive interventions, identifies limitations and open questions, and suggests priorities and directions for further research. Limitations of available studies include a frequent lack of methodological rigor, suboptimal selection of endpoints, and sparse evidence for generalization to functional improvements. We highlight several emerging psychosocial and non-psychosocial approaches that may enhance the efficacy of social cognitive interventions and promote generalization to improvements in real world functioning. We conclude that cautious optimism is warranted as the field moves forward into the next wave of social cognitive treatment studies.
Pluronic Nanotechnology for Overcoming Drug Resistance

Chemotherapy is one of the most conventionally used therapeutic interventions for treating various diseases. Chances of acquiring multidrug resistance in response to chemotherapeutic agents are exceedingly common among patients. Drug resistance arises mainly due to overexpression of efflux transporters such as P-glycoprotein and multidrug resistance-associated protein of the ATP-binding cassette superfamily of proteins, which significantly limits intracellular drug accumulation and drug activity. Although many approaches exist to overcome drug resistance, their uses are significantly limited in clinical practice. In this chapter, we demonstrate the superior functions of Pluronic-based technologies to overcome drug resistance. The present chapter highlights various aspects of Pluronic polymers, Pluronic conjugates, Pluronic nanotechnology, as well as their therapeutic implications for effective treatment strategies. We include the role of Pluronic polymers as a pharmaceutic excipient and drug delivery vehicle in this review. In addition, we highlight examples of Pluronic nanosystems that are currently in preclinical development, clinical trials, and clinically translatable formulations. Furthermore, a number of innovative Pluronic nano-designs of advanced therapeutics for future medicinal applications are presented. Collectively, the use of Pluronic-based nanoformulations discussed in this chapter suggests sensitization and prevention of drug resistance. Such an approach not only minimizes the dose required for treatment, but also minimizes the number of treatment cycles, which is useful in a clinical scenario.
Comparison of radiography and computed tomography to evaluate fractures of the canine tarsus.

Detection and accurate classification of traumatic tarsal fractures are important for identifying cases requiring surgical intervention. The aim of this prospective, experimental, methods comparison study was to directly compare the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of tarsal computed tomography (CT), ten-view and two-view digital radiographs for detecting traumatic fractures of the canine tarsus. The working hypothesis was that tarsal fractures would be detected with higher accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity using CT imaging compared to radiography, and a ten-view would be superior to a two-view radiographic study. Ten cadaver hind limbs of medium to large dogs received a CT scan and ten-view radiographic study before and after induction of fractures with a hydraulic press. All bones included in the radiographic images were assessed for fractures by two observers and gross dissection was used as the gold standard. The two-view radiographic study (dorsoplantar, lateromedial) was created from the ten-view study and reviewed 2 years later. All limbs sustained fractures, the most common locations were the talus and calcaneus (n = 7). The sensitivity of CT was greater than ten-view radiographic study (77% vs. 57%), while the specificity was similar (97% vs. 98%). The sensitivity and specificity of the ten-view and two-view radiograph studies were similar (57% vs. 55%; both 98%). Computed tomography images were reassessed postdissection to determine if failure to identify fractures resulted from observer error. Overall, CT was better than radiography for detecting fractures of the canine tarsus, however there was little improvement with ten-view compared to two-view radiographic studies.