cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accounting for Pregnancy Diagnosis in Predicting Days Open

The system for estimating days open for cows with no subsequent lactation was examined to determine if estimates should vary depending on pregnancy diagnosis. Pregnancy diagnosis information was unavailable when the original prediction system was developed, but collection was begun in 2002. New prediction equations were estimated from nearly 1.1 million Holstein lactations for 20-d intervals from 110 to 250 days in milk (DIM). Use of pregnancy diagnosis improved accuracy compared with the original system. The improvement was particularly evident for lactations of cows confirmed to be open in the 130-to-149 DIM interval, where predicted days open increased by >96 d. For lactations of cows with a confirmed pregnancy, predicted days open decreased by 18 d for the same interval. Prediction errors decreased with increasing DIM. Jersey lactations averaged fewer days open, but in most cases Holstein solutions provided adequate predictions. Specific adjustments were generated for Jersey lactations with no breedings reported. Those adjustments reduced the predicted days open averaged across parity by an amount that increased from 9 to 27 d with DIM interval. The new prediction equations were implemented for November 2004 evaluations for daughter pregnancy rate.
Packet Length Optimization for MIMO Mobile Systems with Estimated CSI

The reliability of mobile packet data transmission in multi-input multi-output (MIMO) communication systems is degraded by time-varying multi-path channel fading. This so-called Doppler-effect can be mitigated by using a shorter packet length and/or inserting more pilot training symbols and frequently tracking the channel at the receiver at the cost of additional rate overhead. A judicious choice of the packet length according to channel conditions aims at achieving a tradeoff between reliability and overhead to maximize the achievable throughput. We present an analytical framework for optimizing the packet length in mobile MIMO systems to maximize throughput taking into account channel estimation and Doppler effects. As a case study, we consider the Alamouti space-time block code (STBC) for 2 transmit antennas over Rayleigh flat-fading channels and determine the optimum packet length as a function of input SNR and Doppler rate. Furthermore, we investigate the effect of various system design parameters on the optimum packet length and achievable throughput such as signal constellation size, number of receive antennas, and receiver detection algorithm.
Tn5 as a model for understanding DNA transposition

Tn5 is an excellent model system for understanding the molecular basis of DNA-mediated transposition. Mechanistic information has come from genetic and biochemical investigations of the transposase and its interactions with the recognition DNA sequences at the ends of the transposon. More recently, molecular structure analyses of catalytically active transposase; transposon DNA complexes have provided us with unprecedented insights into this transposition system. Transposase initiates transposition by forming a dimeric transposase, transposon DNA complex. In the context of this complex, the transposase then catalyses four phosphoryl transfer reactions (DNA nicking, DNA hairpin formation, hairpin resolution and strand transfer into target DNA) resulting in the integration of the transposon into its new DNA site. The studies that elucidated these steps also provided important insights into the integration of retroviral genomes into host DNA and the immune system V(D)J joining process. This review will describe the structures and steps involved in Tn5 transposition and point out a biologically important although surprising characteristic of the wild-type Tn5 transposase. Transposase is a very inactive protein. An inactive transposase protein ensures the survival of the host and thus the survival of Tn5.
Functional Verification Methodology Based on Formal Interface Specification and Transactor Generation

Transaction level models promise to be the basis of the verification environment for the whole design process. Realizing this promise requires connecting transaction level and RTL blocks through an object called a transactor, which translates back and forth between RTL signal-based communication, and transaction level function-call based communication. Each transactor is associated with a pair of interfaces, one at RTL and one at transaction level. Typically, however, a pair of interfaces is associated to more than one transactor, each assuming a different role in the verification process. In this paper we propose a methodology in which both the interfaces and their relation are captured by a single formal specification. By using the specification, we show how the code for all the transactors associated with a pair of interfaces can be automatically generated.
Coalescent versus Concatenation Methods and the Placement of Amborella as Sister to Water Lilies

The molecular era has fundamentally reshaped our knowledge of the evolution and diversification of angiosperms. One outstanding question is the phylogenetic placement of Amborella trichopoda Baill., commonly thought to represent the first lineage of extant angiosperms. Here, we leverage publicly available data and provide a broad coalescent-based species tree estimation of 45 seed plants. By incorporating 310 nuclear genes, our coalescent analyses strongly support a clade containing Amborella plus water lilies (i.e., Nymphaeales) that is sister to all other angiosperms across different nucleotide rate partitions. Our results also show that commonly applied concatenation methods produce strongly supported, but incongruent placements of Amborella: slow-evolving nucleotide sites corroborate results from coalescent analyses, whereas fast-evolving sites place Amborella alone as the first lineage of extant angiosperms. We further explored the performance of coalescent versus concatenation methods using nucleotide sequences simulated on (i) the two alternate placements of Amborella with branch lengths and substitution model parameters estimated from each of the 310 nuclear genes and (ii) three hypothetical species trees that are topologically identical except with respect to the degree of deep coalescence and branch lengths. Our results collectively suggest that the Amborella alone placement inferred using concatenation methods is likely misled by fast-evolving sites. This appears to be exacerbated by the combination of long branches in stem group angiosperms, Amborella, and Nymphaeales with the short internal branch separating Amborella and Nymphaeales. In contrast, coalescent methods appear to be more robust to elevated substitution rates.
Mass Democracy, Class Struggle, and Remolding the Party and Government during the Land Reform Movement in North China

Through an investigation of the 1947–1948 campaign of remolding the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the government, which was driven by the revolutionary idea of “mass democracy,” in the CCP-controlled “old areas” in North China, this article reveals both intrinsic connections and profound contradictions between this self-directed revolutionary movement and the discursive practices of “class struggle” in land reform. It also sheds light on a significant consequence of the movement: the birth of “rule-by-virtue democracy” and its quasi-institutionalized mode of operation of “mass-involved party rectification.”
Uplink options for an array-centric deep space network

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory has begun work on large arrays of small antennas for increasing the receiving capability of the NASA Deep Space Network (DSN). These receive-only arrays promise to be the lowest cost way to meet the downlink needs of future missions. The DSN also need new uplink capability: a) to provide higher uplink rates to new types of missions, b) to support more spacecraft simultaneously, c) to provide high effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) for very distant missions and for spacecraft emergencies, and d) to back up and potentially replace the aging 70-m antennas. This paper discusses various approaches to providing new uplink capability, with the goal of minimizing the overall life cycle cost of the DSN. One proposed way to provide new uplink capability is by uplink arrays of small antennas. This approach has technical challenges, and it needs to be demonstrated that they can be overcome. The second major option is to use 34-m and/or larger antennas for the uplinks. In this option, 34-m antennas might be arrayed to obtain the same or greater EIRP as might be obtained on 70-m antennas. This work presents a scenario for increasing the overall DSN capacity in several steps. Building blocks are defined that can be used to implement these steps. The key building blocks are 34-m antennas with uplink and downlink, 34-m antennas with receive only, and various array configurations that are equivalent in performance to the 34-m antenna configurations. Making cost estimates for these building blocks facilitate estimating overall DSN costs for various approaches and levels of capability.
The Role of Error in the Conceptual Design of a Transport Aircraft

A fidelity trade environment was demonstrated by using it to simulate a decision making process for a transport aircraft. This scenario was not possible without the fidelity trade environment. The role of system feedback and coupling in error stability was also investigated. A sensitivity approach which relies on the system sensitivity matrix was used to rapidly approximate the propagation of error through the complex system. In verification tests, the sensitivity approach provided approximate results substantially similar to a Monte Carlo approach that was many orders of magnitude more expensive. The rapid sensitivity approach to modeling error propagation enabled the responsive analysis required for an interactive environment. A notional transport aircraft was modeled in the fidelity trade environment. The system was decomposed and the fidelity trade environment was used to integrate the system. Then, a scenario was described where a decision maker used the fidelity trade environment at the beginning of a complex systems design problem. Using the environment, the designer was able to make design decisions while considering error and he was able to make decisions regarding required tool fidelity as the design problem continues. These decisions could not be made in a quantitative manner before the fidelity trade environment was developed. The role of system feedback and coupling in the growth or decay of an individual error source was investigated. The diagonal entry of the inverse system sensitivity matrix was identified as the determining factor in the stability of a particular error source.
Differential effects of intraspecific interactions on the striatal dopamine system in social and non-social voles

We used in vivo microdialysis to examine the responses to intraspecific social interactions in the striatal dopamine systems of females of two vole species displaying vastly different social structures. Both highly social prairie voles and asocial meadow voles had similar increases in extracellular dopamine associated with mating. There was a species-specific effect of social condition on extracellular dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC). Exposure to a conspecific male significantly decreased extracellular DOPAC in female prairie voles isolated for approximately 18 h during surgical recovery. Such decrease in DOPAC was not seen if females experienced continued isolation or if they were housed with a sibling during surgical recovery. No changes in extracellular DOPAC were seen in meadow voles after manipulations of social environment. Together, our data indicate that mating-associated dopamine release is independent from mating systems. However, species-specific patterns of extracellular DOPAC suggest that social isolation may be a more stressful stimulus for the social prairie vole than for the asocial meadow vole.
Thomas Hobbes: The Mediation of Right

Rights have always been a Janus-faced measure of moral action. One’s rights are reminders that his welfare is always potentially in conflict with the welfare of others. They serve as principles of alienation, and the invocation of one’s rights is a latent declaration of war. One might liken the man who invokes his rights to the Biblical Adam who, having eaten from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, was awakened by that act to the bleak aspects of his surroundings. An enlightened Adam knows that the Garden of Eden is a paradise only for a man of very few, exceedingly simple wants. That knowledge alone is sufficient to transform paradise into purgatory (cf. EW III, 194). In much the same way, enlightened reflection upon the human condition, illuminated by a sense of one’s rights, is a prelude to distress and despair. Untempered, such enlightenment can awaken the serpent in man. It can coax him into exaggerating both his needs and his claim to rightful satisfaction of those needs.
Spectral sensitivity of larval mosquito ocelli

The spectral sensitivity of lateral ocelli in both wild-type and white-eyed larvae of the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti L. (reared in darkness) was measured by means of the electroretinogram. The spectral sensitivity is maximal at about 520 nm, with a small secondary peak near 370 nm. When allowance is made for some screening and filtering by the eye tissues, the spectral sensitivity is in reasonable agreement with the absorption spectrum of ocellar rhodopsin (λmax = 515 nm).
Distinctive cutaneous and systemic features associated with antitranscriptional intermediary factor-1γ antibodies in adults with dermatomyositis.

Background Antibodies against transcriptional intermediary factor (TIF)-1γ are associated with malignancy in dermatomyositis (DM). Identification of clinical findings associated with anti-TIF-1γ antibodies in DM is a high priority for both patient diagnosis and risk assessment. Objective We sought to define the clinical phenotype of patients with anti-TIF-1γ DM. Methods Using a novel, sensitive, and specific assay for anti-TIF-1γ antibodies, we retrospectively tested plasma from 134 adult patients with DM and examined associations between anti-TIF-1γ antibodies and particular clinical and laboratory features. Results In all, 55 (41%) patients had autoantibodies to TIF-1γ. Anti-TIF-1γ positive patients were less likely to have systemic features including interstitial lung disease, Raynaud phenomenon, and arthritis/arthralgia. Patients with TIF-1γ autoantibodies had more extensive skin involvement, and some patients manifested characteristic findings including palmar hyperkeratotic papules, psoriasis-like lesions and a novel finding of hypopigmented and telangiectatic ("red on white") patches. Limitations This was a retrospective study from a single tertiary referral center. Conclusion TIF-1γ is the most commonly targeted DM-specific autoantigen in adults in a large US cohort. Although these patients tend to have less systemic involvement, their skin disease is often extensive and characteristic. Recognition of cutaneous findings in anti-TIF-1γ positive patients may allow more accurate and timely diagnosis and effective treatment of patients with DM.
Proportional integral controller gain tuning using real time digital simulation models and multi-objective optimization based co-simulation

Abstract Proportional integral (PI) controller is a widely used controller strategy. It has two gain constants: proportional(k p ) and integral(k i ) gain constant. The dynamics of the PI controller depends on the values of the gain constant used. If gains of these control terms are not selected properly, instability will occur. Gain tuning methodologies are available to tune these controllers to avoid instability. But, these gain tuning strategies and algorithms utilize simplified mathematical model of the plant in order to obtain gain values. This approach might not provide optimal gain values for models used in real time digital simulator. In the proposed approach, the algorithm utilizes the step response of the system to obtain optimal gain constants. The plant is modeled using the real time digital simulator (RTDS). A multi-objective optimization formulation is used to find the optimal gain constants. Results are presented here to support the effectiveness of proposed multi-objective gain tuning strategy.
Draft Genome Sequence of an ortho-Nitrophenyl-β-d-Galactoside (ONPG)-Negative Strain of Vibrio cholerae, Isolated from Drakes Bay, California

We present the draft whole-genome sequence of a Vibrio cholerae strain (Vc25-3) isolated from Drakes Bay, California. This environmental isolate has an atypical morphology and is ortho-nitrophenyl-β-d-galactoside (ONPG)-negative.
Managing for quality in the electronics industry

The quality of electronic products is a combination of numerous attributes, including defect level, reliability, availability, appearance and ease of use. Product developers and manufacturers strive to maximize the performance level for the quality attributes that are most critical for a product’s intended applications, while optimising the overall product quality. This paper will discuss methodologies used to achieve high quality electronic products, and the measurements used to define and distinguish product quality levels.
Toward an Informative and Applied Methodology for Price Comparison Studies of Farmers' Markets and Competing Retailers at the Local Scale

Qualitative research on food pricing in regional markets is currently underrepresented in the scholarly literature. The methods used in existing peer-reviewed studies tend to obscure important qualitative differences in the food items they compare and the retail spaces they source. Recently, some non–peer reviewed price comparison studies have emerged that point to some of the complications of earlier studies and offer alternative methods for data collection and comparison. Building upon the contributions of these latter works, this study attempts to improve upon previous studies and provide a set of methods that contribute thoughtfully to future studies. The main goal of this study is to advance research that would better inform consumers and the producers who serve them. The key contribution of this study is a new model for future price comparison studies that accurately provides accessible and practical information for farmers' market producers and consumers.
In vitro activation of cysteine desulfhydrase by rat liver microsomes.

SummaryThe cysteine desulfhvdrase of rat liver was found in the cytoplasmic supernatant but was not associated with either nuclei, mitochondria, or microsomes. There was an increase in enzyme activity when the microsome fraction was added to the cytoplasmic supernatant. This increase was greater as larger amounts of microsomes were added. No enhancement was observed when microsomes were added to a whole homogenate from which microsomes only had been removed, suggesting a complex interdependence of the various cytoplasmic elements.
Effect of vegetation height on hunting behavior and diet of Loggerhead Shrikes

Prey distribution, environmental conditions, and competition should affect animals' choice of patches, hunting method, and prey types. Loggerhead Shrikes are sitand-wait predators and rarely hunt in flight. We observed the effect of sub-optimal substrate on their hunting capabilities. Hunting attempts and hunting success were not significantly different before and after the substrate in six territories was mown, although significant differences occurred in the number of prey caught by aerial chases and hovering and in the number collected from perches. In two territories that were not mown, no significant differences occurred. None of the shrikes adjusted the boundaries of their territories; all were apparently able to overcome the effects of high vegetation by altering their hunting behavior.
Hydroxylated Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Paired Maternal and Cord Sera

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were widely used as flame retardants in the past three decades. These compounds are lipophilic and easily cross the placenta from pregnant woman to fetus. It is not clear whether hydroxylated PBDEs (OH-PBDEs), with greater hydrophilicity, have different concentrations in maternal and cord serum samples. We analyzed PBDEs (BDE-28, -47, -99, -100, -153, -154, -209) and OH-PBDEs (6-OH-BDE-47, 5-OH-BDE-47, 4′-OH-BDE-49, 5′-OH-BDE-99) in 20 pairs of maternal and cord serum samples collected in Cincinnati, OH in 2011. The geometric mean concentration of ∑OH-BDEs (the sum of four OH-PBDEs) was 49.76 pg/mL in cord sera, higher than 32.84 pg/mL in maternal sera. Similarly, cord serum total BDEs had a higher geometric mean than maternal serum (45.51 vs 32.07 ng/g lipid). Equal or higher levels of total OH-BDEs and total BDEs in cord serum were observed in 85% and 80% of the mother–neonate pairs, respectively. The study suggests fetuses might receive higher OH-PBDE and PBDE exp...
Analysis of Automatic Tracking Technology in Oracle Database Maintenance

This paper mainly analyzes the dynamic tracking technology in the application of the Oracle database maintenance. Automatic tracking technology is applied to Oracle data backend tracking and SQL statements,according to the database information and the related parameters for full resolution. Automatic tracking technology can help database administrators to optimize maintenance workflow and database performance and facilitate users' operation.
Immunity and cancer therapy: present status and future projections.

The therapeutic utility of T cell transfers has been repeatedly demonstrated in the past in combination with certain anticancer drugs, in mice bearing experimental tumors. Regional immunity is characterized by regional specificities of effector cells and of regulatory mechanisms which also involves the participation of cells such as epithelial cells which are not usually construed as being strictly a part of the immune system. Several anticancer drugs have been found to have immunomodulating action expressed in specific effects on the immune system. Tumor-induced suppression of the immune system and tumor escape mechanisms represent important areas of investigations. Soluble tumor suppressor factors have been repeatedly reported to occur clinically and should be purified and characterized as possible targets of intervention. Modification of tumor cells has been already studied for a number of years in efforts to develop better vaccines.
Auditory stimuli automatically grab attention: Evidence from eye tracking and attentional manipulations.

Simultaneously presenting auditory and visual stimuli can hinder performance for one modality while the other dominates. For approximately 40 years, research with adults has primarily indicated visual dominance, while recent research with infants and young children has revealed auditory dominance. The current study further investigates modality dominance with adults, finding evidence for both auditory and visual dominance across 3 experiments. Using a simple discrimination task, Experiment 1 revealed that cross-modal presentation attenuated discrimination of auditory input, while at the same time, also slowed down visual processing. Even when participants were instructed to only pay attention to the visual stimuli, both spoken nonsense words and nonlinguistic sounds slowed down visual processing (Experiment 2). Experiment 3 used a similar discrimination task while utilizing an eye tracker to examine how auditory input affects visual fixations. Cross-modal presentation attenuated auditory discrimination; however, it also slowed down visual response times. In addition, adults also made longer fixations and were slower to make their first fixation when images were paired with sounds. The latter finding is novel and consistent with a proposed mechanism of auditory dominance: auditory stimuli automatically engage attention and attenuate or delay visual processing. (PsycINFO Database Record(c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
Stratification of pseudoprogression and true progression of glioblastoma multiform based on longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging without segmentation.

Purpose: Pseudoprogression (PsP) can mimic true tumor progression (TTP) on magnetic resonance imaging in patients with glioblastoma multiform (GBM). The phenotypical similarity between PsP and TTP makes it a challenging task for physicians to distinguish these entities. So far, no approved biomarkers or computer-aided diagnosis systems have been used clinically for this purpose. Methods: To address this challenge, the authors developed an objective classification system for PsP and TTP based on longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging. A novel spatio-temporal discriminative dictionary learning scheme was proposed to differentiate PsP and TTP, thereby avoiding segmentation of the region of interest. The authors constructed a novel discriminative sparse matrix with the classification-oriented dictionary learning approach by excluding the shared features of two categories, so that the pooled features captured the subtle difference between PsP and TTP. The most discriminating features were then identified from the pooled features by their feature scoring system. Finally, the authors stratified patients with GBM into PsP and TTP by a support vector machine approach. Tenfold cross-validation (CV) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) were used to assess the robustness of the developed system. Results: The average accuracy and AUC values after ten rounds of tenfold CV were 0.867 and 0.92, respectively. The authors also assessed the effects of different methods and factors (such as data types, pooling techniques, and dimensionality reduction approaches) on the performance of their classification system which obtained the best performance. Conclusions: The proposed objective classification system without segmentation achieved a desirable and reliable performance in differentiating PsP from TTP. Thus, the developed approach is expected to advance the clinical research and diagnosis of PsP and TTP.
Blood pressure in the arm and thigh of man: III. Effect of venous engorgement

Abstract The production of congestion of an extremity by means of a tight cuff usually results in little change in systolic blood pressure, but, in some cases, it may result in considerable increase in diastolic pressure and a decrease in the intensity of the diastolic auscultatory sounds in that extremity. It is not known why some persons exhibit these tendencies, whereas others do not. Possible mechanisms are discussed. Slow or intermittent deflation of a blood pressure cuff below the level of systolic pressure may tend to increase the value of the diastolic blood pressure in some cases. Suggestions are offered to obviate this tendency.
Vibrational relaxation and dephasing of small molecules strongly interacting with water

Nonlinear infrared experiments were used to measure vibrational relaxation and spectral diffusion processes of small molecules (CN-, N3 -, CO2) in water. Vibrational relaxation of CN- is dominated by Coulomb interaction and intramolecular solvent modes are important to understand the mechanism. For N3 - and CO2 the relaxation appears to be directly into the solvent without involvement of lower lying intramolecular modes. For both N3 - and CO2, a structural inhomogeneity was observed, which decays on a ca. 1 ps time scale and which is attributed to the dynamics of the hydrogen bonds between water and the solute.
The Populist Theory of the State in Early American Political Thought

That the “state” and the “people” are antonyms of American political thought is a widely held assumption. This essay argues that it is a mistake—Americans early in their thinking about politics dis...
31-P: NOVEL PREEMPTIVE PROTOCOL IMPROVES GRAFT SURVIVAL AMONG SENSITIZED PATIENTS

Aim Chronic rejection (CR) remains the leading cause of graft failure after renal transplantation. We previously showed preoperatively sensitized patients who remain sensitized posttransplant have poor graft survival due to CR. In an effort to reduce CR, we implemented a strategy that scored ‘sensitization risk’ at the time of transplant and preemptively treated patients with 3 or more points with IVIG and plasmapheresis. We report the impact of this protocol upon 3 year clinical outcome. Methods All patients received deceased donor kidneys. Sensitization points were determined at time of transplant for the following parameters: PRA >50% with DSA (1 point), FCXM >100 MCS (1 point), FCXM >200 MCS (2 points), delayed graft function (1 point). Patients with 3 points were preemptively treated with 150 mg/kg IVIG and plasmapheresis thrice weekly for 2 weeks. Immunosuppression was same in all patients. Results Of 235 recipients, 36 received preemptive treatment (Treated) and 199 did not (Control). Groups were similar (p = ns) in terms of patient age (48 vs. 52 yrs), gender (47 vs. 56% male), ethnicity (85 vs. 69% African American) and HLA mismatch (4.5 vs. 4.6). In contrast, Treated patients had significantly (p Conclusions Sensitized patients with positive FCXM and DSA at transplant are most susceptible to chronic rejection. By combining a simple point-based algorithm for sensitization status and preemptive treatment, we have improved 3 year graft survival in this high risk group.
FRAX calculated without BMD does not correctly identify Caucasian men with densitometric evidence of osteoporosis.

The FRAX algorithm assesses the patient’s probability of sustaining an osteoporotic fracture and can be calculated with or without densitometric data. This study seeks to determine whether in men, FRAX scores calculated without BMD, correctly identify patients with BMD-defined osteoporosis. The diagnosis of osteoporosis is based on densitometric data, the presence of a fragility fracture or increased fracture risk. The FRAX algorithm estimates the patient’s 10-year probability of sustaining an osteoporotic fracture and can be calculated with or without BMD data. The purpose of this study is to determine whether in men, FRAX calculated without BMD, can correctly identify patients with BMD-defined osteoporosis. Retrospectively retrieved data from 726 consecutive Caucasian males, 50 to 70 years old referred to our Osteoporosis Center. In the population studied, 11.8 and 25.3% had BMD-defined osteoporosis when female and male reference populations were used respectively. When the National Osteoporosis Foundation thresholds to initiate treatment are used, only 27% of patients with BMD-defined osteoporosis, but 4% with normal BMD reached/exceeded these thresholds. Lowering the threshold increased sensitivity, but decreased specificity. Our results suggest that FRAX without BMD is not sensitive/specific enough to be used to identify Caucasian men 50 to 70 years old with BMD-defined osteoporosis.
Kinetic energy reconstruction with a single layer particle telescope

We demonstrate the implementation of a low-mass, single-layer pixel detector as a multi-component telescope for measuring the kinetic energy of charged particles. Rather than relying on several separate detection layers, we utilize the detector's individual pixels as the basis for multiple sampling of the stopping power of a particle under a shallow incidence angle. We present results from a single layer device corresponding to nearly 50 telescope layers. As the measured dE/dx response is highly stochastic, we utilize a maximum likelihood approach for which we calculate a probability function in the energy domain for each interacting particle. Using accelerator data, we show the limitations of the single-component approach and the advantages of our single-layer, multiple-sampling technique. Inferred energy spectra from accelerators show high accuracy and precision for protons with kinetic energies up to 400 MeV. For higher energies, the low energy limit is still very accurate.
Stock Repurchase Waves

The use of stock repurchases increased dramatically in the mid 1980s and declined in the early 1990s. In this paper, I investigate why this fluctuation occurred by examining the changes in firms' motives for repurchasing stock over the period of 1977 to 1993. I find that the increased use of stock repurchases by large firms caused the dramatic increase in repurchase activity during the 1980s. Firms' primary motives for repurchasing stock during the mid to late 1980s are 1) the distribution of cash flow in excess of investment opportunities and 2) the fending off of potential takeover attempts. I find that firms are not motivated to repurchase stock because of undervaluation, sub-optimal capital structures, or dividend clienteles during this period. These results indicate that the repurchase wave of the 1980s is mainly caused by the desire of large firms to distribute cash and to fend off potential takeover attempts.
Online customer service

The purpose of this study is to find an effective online customer service strategy. Although the effectiveness of the online customer service will vary and depend on the type of business the company is involved in, the usage of different types of tools in this arena have proven to be more useful than others. Effectiveness in this work will be used, in the sense that the more effective strategy will lead to more satisfied customers, a higher customer retention rate and higher revenue for the business.
Thyroid Hemiagenesis in a Thyroiditis Prone Mouse Strain

Background Thyroid hemiagenesis, a rare congenital condition detected by ultrasound screening of the neck, is usually not manifested clinically in humans. This condition has been reported in mice with hypothyroidism associated with induced deficiency in paired box 8 and NK2 homeobox 1, sonic hedgehog, or T-box 1. Unexpectedly, we observed thyroid hemiagenesis in NOD.H2h4 mice, an unusual strain that spontaneously develops iodide enhanced thyroid autoimmunity but remains euthyroid. Objectives and methods First, to compare mice with thyroid hemiagenesis versus bilobed littermates for serum T4, autoantibodies to thyroglobulin (ELISA) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO; flow cytometry with eukaryotic cells expressing mouse TPO), gross anatomy, and thyroid histology; second, to estimate the percentage of mice with thyroid hemiagenesis in the NOD.H2h4 mice we have studied over 6 years. Results Thyroid hemiagenesis was observed in 3 of 1,025 NOD.H2h4 mice (2 females, 1 male; 0.3$). Two instances of hemiagenesis were in wild-type females and one in a transgenic male expressing the human TSHR A-subunit in the thyroid. Two mice had very large unilobed glands, as in some human cases with this condition. Thyroid lymphocytic infiltration, serum T4, and the levels of thyroid autoantibodies were similar in mice with thyroid hemiagenesis and bilobed littermates. Conclusions Unlike hypothyroidism associated with hemiagenesis in transcription factor knockout mice, hemiagenesis in euthyroid NOD.H2h4 mice occurs spontaneously and is phenotypically similar to that occasionally observed in humans.
Epigenetics relating to Wilson disease

Abstract It is well established that copper accumulation in patients with Wilson disease (WD) is due to mutations affecting the ATP7B copper transporter gene. However, the variable clinical presentation suggests that other factors, including epigenetic mechanisms, contribute to the disease phenotype. Epigenetics refers to the study of changes in gene expression due to noncoding RNAs and reversible modifications of chromosomes, including DNA methylation and histone modifications. DNA methylation requires an adequate supply of methyl donors such as methionine. Underlying changes in methionine metabolism can affect DNA methylation and ultimately disease progression. Additionally, environmental effects such as diet, lifestyle, and toxin exposure, both in utero and postnatally, are known to impact gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms. Evidence in animal models of WD and indirect clinical evidence indicates changes in methionine metabolism, and consequently epigenetic mechanisms may contribute to disease presentation and course.
The Coming Hip and Femur Fracture Bundle: A New Inpatient Risk Stratification Tool for Care Providers:

Introduction:In response to increasing health-care costs, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has initiated several programs to transition from a fee-for-service model to a value-based care mo...
Transport across epithelia: A kinetic evaluation

Compartmental analysis of three models for solute transport across epithelial tissue is presented. The simplest model describes only one tissue compartment, the second incorporates the notion of a pore as a parallel pathway and the third model introduces a serial compartment corresponding to non-epithelial portions of the tissue. Experimental data were obtained, using a modified Ussing and Zerahn technique ((1951 Acta Physiol. Scand. 23, 110-127), for salicylate transport across rat jejunum in vitro and analyzed in terms of these three models. The conclusions based solely on the mathematical analysis of this rather simple experiment are: the tissue is not a homogeneous penetration barrier as often considered. Transport is not limited by unstirred layers either at the tissue surfaces or within the tissue itself. Salicylate is not passively transported. Parallel transport pathways do exist.
Correlates of organochlorine pesticide plasma concentrations among reproductive-aged black women

Abstract Background Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are lipophilic persistent organic pollutants associated with adverse health outcomes. Black women have higher body burdens compared with other U.S. populations and research on their correlates is limited. Methods Using baseline data from a prospective cohort study of Black women aged 23–35 years from the Detroit, Michigan metropolitan area (enrolled 2010–2012), we examined correlates of plasma concentrations of the following OCPs: dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,pʹ-DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), oxychlordane, and trans-nonachlor. At enrollment, we collected non-fasting blood samples from 742 participants. We also collected data on demographic, behavioral, dietary, occupational, and medical history factors via self-administered questionnaires, telephone interviews, and in-person clinic visits. We fit linear regression models to calculate percent (%) differences across categories of each correlate and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results In models adjusted for all other correlates, a 5-year increase in age was associated with 24% higher oxychlordane (95% CI: 12%, 38%) and 26% higher trans-nonachlor (95% CI: 12%, 42%) plasma concentrations. Heavy alcohol use was associated with 7–9% higher plasma concentrations of p,pʹ-DDE, oxychlordane, and trans-nonachlor. Current smoking was associated with 10–19% higher plasma concentrations of all four OCPs, and was highest for current smokers of ≥10 cigarettes/day (% differences ranged from 22 to 29%). Compared with having never been breastfed during infancy, having been breastfed for ≥3 months was associated with 15% higher concentrations of p,pʹ-DDE (95% CI: 6%, 25%), 14% higher oxychlordane (95% CI: 5%, 24%), and 15% higher trans-nonachlor (95% CI: 5%, 27%). Consumption of ≥5 vs. ≤2 glasses/day of tap or bottled water was associated with 8–15% higher plasma concentrations of all four OCPs, and was highest for trans-nonachlor (% difference: 15%; 95% CI: 6%, 26%). No other dietary predictors were appreciably associated with plasma OCP concentrations. Obesity, parity, higher birth order, and longer lactation duration were inversely associated with plasma OCP concentrations. Conclusions In Black U.S. women of reproductive age, older age was an important correlate of plasma OCP concentrations. Exposure to OCPs earlier in life appears to contribute to current blood concentrations. In addition, tobacco, alcohol, and drinking water may be important sources of exposure.
Impact of violations of measurement invariance in cross-lagged panel mediation models

When fitting cross-lagged panel mediation models, the assumption of longitudinal measurement invariance should be made. This simulation study investigated the impact of violations of measurement invariance on cross-lagged panel mediation analysis using the latent cross-lagged panel mediation model (L-CLPM). Results showed that estimates of direct and mediated effects tended to be less accurate and the type I error rate of testing mediated effects can be inflated under non-invariance conditions. On the other hand, power for detecting model misspecifications due to longitudinal non-invariance was high across all investigated conditions. Fit indices were not sensitive to violations of measurement invariance in the L-CLPM under the manipulated conditions. We end the article with suggestions, limitations, and future directions.
Stream 3B: Vector Calculus

Before we can define the vector operations \({\nabla }(), {\nabla }\!\cdot (), {\nabla }\!\times (), \text { and } {\nabla }^2(),\) we must define the objects they operate on: scalar and vector fields. The word field has two very different meanings: a mathematical one, which defines an algebraic structure, and a physical one, discussed next.
Dietary Exposures and Intake Doses to Bisphenol A and Triclosan in 188 Duplicate-Single Solid Food Items Consumed by US Adults.

Few data exist on bisphenol A (BPA) or triclosan (TCS) residue levels in foods consumed by adults in everyday settings. In a further analysis of study data, the objectives were to determine BPA and TCS residue concentrations in duplicate-single solid food items consumed by adults and to estimate dietary exposure and intake doses per food item. A convenience sample of 50 adults was recruited in North Carolina (2009–2011). Participants completed 24 h food diaries and collected 24 h duplicate-diet solid food samples consumed on days 1 and 2 during sampling weeks 1, 2, and 6. A total of 188 of the collected 776 duplicate-diet solid food samples contained a single, solid food item. BPA and TCS residue levels were quantified in the 188 food items using GC–MS. BPA and TCS were detected in 37% and 58% of these food items, respectively. BPA concentrations were highest in a cheese and tomato sandwich (104 ng/g), whereas the highest TCS concentrations were in a burrito (22.1 ng/g). These chemicals co-occurred in 20% of the samples (maximum = 54.7 ng/g). Maximum dietary intake doses were 429 ng/kg/day for BPA in a vegetable soup with tortilla sample and 72.0 ng/kg/day for TCS in a burrito sample.
The Influence of a Blind Professor in a Bioengineering Course

Although there is increasing literature on blind and visually impaired students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), there is a prevalent gap in the literature regarding STEM educators who are blind or visually impaired. This account aims to partially fill this gap by presenting the methodology and implementation of teaching by Dr. Mona Minkara, a blind bioengineering professor, as well as the tangible outcomes of this approach. We discuss the efforts taken by Dr. Minkara and a team of access assistants to develop accessible methods for teaching a largely visual course, including the use of assistive technologies, such as alternative text, braille, and text-to-speech software. Outside perspectives from teaching assistants, access assistants, and students are also discussed. Student feedback was collected in an end-of-term survey and analyzed to obtain quantitative and qualitative data. Evidenced by student feedback on their experience, we demonstrate that Dr. Minkara's visual impairment altered student perceptions about blindness in education and led to a more interactive and engaging learning environment for her students. This evidence also shows that students were overwhelmingly in support of more blind educators in STEM. We present this account and share our developing toolbox to demonstrate that a career in higher education can (and should) be accessible if given the right modifications. Efforts aimed at broadening the participation of blind and visually impaired individuals in STEM education can continue to alter student perceptions and lead to enhanced learning environments, as well as encourage instructors to increase the accessibility of their own teaching.
Matching IRT Models to Patient-Reported Outcomes Constructs: The Graded Response and Log-Logistic Models for Scaling Depression

Item response theory (IRT) model applications extend well beyond cognitive ability testing, and various patient-reported outcomes (PRO) measures are among the more prominent examples. PRO (and like) constructs differ from cognitive ability constructs in many ways, and these differences have model fitting implications. With a few notable exceptions, however, most IRT applications to PRO constructs rely on traditional IRT models, such as the graded response model. We review some notable differences between cognitive and PRO constructs and how these differences can present challenges for traditional IRT model applications. We then apply two models (the traditional graded response model and an alternative log-logistic model) to depression measure data drawn from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System project. We do not claim that one model is "a better fit" or more "valid" than the other; rather, we show that the log-logistic model may be more consistent with the construct of depression as a unipolar phenomenon. Clearly, the graded response and log-logistic models can lead to different conclusions about the psychometrics of an instrument and the scaling of individual differences. We underscore, too, that, in general, explorations of which model may be more appropriate cannot be decided only by fit index comparisons; these decisions may require the integration of psychometrics with theory and research findings on the construct of interest.
Secularism and Muslim Democracy in Turkey

Introduction: what is an Islamic and non-Islamic party? 1. The socio-political context 2. Political origins of the AKP 3. Ideology, organization and parliamentary group of the AKP 4. The two queen bees: Erdogan and Gul 5. Modes of secularism 6. The AKP and the Kurdish question 7. Foreign policy - EU/Cyprus and USA/Iraq 8. The crisis and the 2007 elections.
An Investigation of Polar Ozone Recovery in the 1997 Southern Hemisphere Spring

A chemical transport model is used to investigate the processes that control the depth and duration of the ozone 'hole' in the lower stratosphere through comparisons of model output with measurements from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) and from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) and Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE), both on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS). This study extends previous model comparisons with observations into October and November and examine levels in (greater than 31 hPa) and above (less than 31 hPa) the chemical loss region. Averages of column ozone in the model decrease through mid-October below 31 hPa but begin to increase in mid-September above 31 hPa. An investigation of model-tracer data comparisons and other meteorological parameters indicate that the model presents a consistent picture of top-down recovery and tracer transport. An O03budget study at 500 K (below 31 hPa) and 840 K (above 31 hPa) is carried out to investigate the processes that control the timing of the transition of ozone from a chemical to dynamically driven regime. The model ozone decrease at 500 K is due to chemical loss in August and September but is due to upward motion in October. The ozone increase at 840 K is primarily due to photochemical production, with a smaller contribution from transport. These results show that chemistry and dynamics can play different roles in polar vortex ozone recovery at different levels.