cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regime Change: Implications of Macroeconomic Shifts on Asset Class and Portfolio Performance

It is a well-recognized empirical observation that different asset classes respond differently to different economic drivers. It is also well recognized that asset class behavior can vary significantly over shifting economic scenarios. This article builds on this empirical evidence to develop a quantitative framework for regime-based asset allocation. It investigates whether regime-based investing can effectively respond to changes in economic regimes at the portfolio level in an effort to provide better long-term results when compared to a more static approach. Results indicate that it is both possible and practical to develop a regime-based investing approach that can potentially add value over time. Success depends on identifying key factors that influence asset class performance, and then developing a way to model those non-linear relationships. Regime-based investing also requires a healthy degree of economic forecasting skill, which need not be perfect to add value. Based on the authors’ analysis, regimebased investing can offer investors a compelling alternative to a more static approach.
Discriminative metric: Schatten norm vs. vector norm

The notion of metric is fundamental for the study of pattern recognition and vector 2-norm ║·║ 2 is one of the most widely used metric, i.e., Euclidean distance. However, there is often the case that the inputs are matrices, e.g., 2D images in face recognition. Since a matrix can take more structure information than its vectorization, it is highly preferable to adopt the matrix representation of the original image rather than a simple vector. In this paper, we first propose a class of discriminative metrics for matrices, i.e., Schatten p-norm, by which we can better explain that with Euclidean metric, why the differences among facial images due to impact factors, e.g., illuminations, are more significant than differences due to identity variations. Second, we propose a novel Principal Component Analysis method based on Schatten 1-norm which can be easily extended to other subspace learning methods. Extensive experiments on Yale B, CMU PIE, ORL and AR databases prove the effectiveness of our method.
A Review and Critique of Partner Effect Research in Small Groups

The purpose of this review is to discuss the ways in which partner effects are examined in group contexts. We focus on social influence, as it is a common theme in group research from cognate field...
Dual purinergic synaptic transmission in the human enteric nervous system.

Based on findings in rodents, we sought to test the hypothesis that purinergic modulation of synaptic transmission occurs in the human intestine. Time series analysis of intraneuronal free Ca2+ lev...
Substance use and sexual behaviors among Japanese tourists, students, and temporary workers in Honolulu, Hawaii

A total of 249 Japanese nationals - tourists (n = 107), students (n = 98), and temporary workers (n = 44) - were recruited at the targeted community venues in Honolulu, Hawaii, and completed a structured survey questionnaire. Reported lifetime sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs infection (10% male and 20% female participants), and HIV infection rates (7%, 2 out of 31 persons tested) were high. Male participants were more likely to practice safe sex with female sex workers than with steady and casual female partners both in Japan and Hawaii. More than 80% of the participants reported having had sex under the influence of alcohol. Multivariate analysis revealed that positive attitudes toward drug use and negative attitudes toward condom use were significantly correlated with the frequency of sex under the influence of drugs with steady partners in the past 12 months. Future HIV/STD prevention intervention programs must target Japanese youths who are planning to visit Hawaii or elsewhere abroad, as well as Japanese high-risk groups (e.g., temporary workers in Hawaii), and provide information about HIV/STD prevention in relation to substance use.
Beliefs about Women: Components and Correlates

In the past decade researchers have become increasingly interested in examining the many facets of gender stereotypes. One particular area on which attention has been focused concerns "stereotypic" beliefs about women. The present article describes the development and validation of a self-report questionnaire measuring 15 stereotypes about women, the Beliefs about Women Scale (BA WS). The results provided evidence supporting the reliability and validity of the BA WS. The discussion deals with the use of the BA WS in the investigation of women's and men's personal functioning, cognitive activity, and interpersonal relationships.
Cyber crime and challenges for crime investigation in the information era

Summary form only given. The rapid development of computer technology and the integration of computer and communication technology have made significant changes to human information activities. Firstly, the efficient and effective power of information processing has made computer the most important tool for data processing. As a result, more and more data are processed and stored in computer systems. Secondly, the transcend nature of the Internet has made it one of the major channels for human communication. Consequently, our society is in a state of transformation toward a ldquovirtual society,rdquo where peoplepsilas daily activities, such as shopping, getting services, and especially sharing information, can be accomplished without face-to-face contact with others. Nowadays, computers and computer networks are ubiquitous and used in every facet of modern society. Although information technology has enabled global businesses to flourish, it also becomes one of the major enablers for unscrupulous individuals to commit crime and escape apprehensions by law enforcement agencies. It is often stated that cyber crime investigation & forensics is the largest challenge for law enforcement agencies in this 21st century. This presentation will address the issues current faced by law enforcement agencies and attempt to look ahead in order to discern the research directions for cyber crime investigation and computer forensics.
Impact of SCP-2/SCP-x gene ablation and dietary cholesterol on hepatic lipid accumulation.

While a high-cholesterol diet induces hepatic steatosis, the role of intracellular sterol carrier protein-2/sterol carrier protein-x (SCP-2/SCP-x) proteins is unknown. We hypothesized that ablating...
A Distinct Group of Hepacivirus/Pestivirus-Like Internal Ribosomal Entry Sites in Members of Diverse Picornavirus Genera: Evidence for Modular Exchange of Functional Noncoding RNA Elements by Recombination

The 5′ untranslated regions (UTRs) of the RNA genomes of Flaviviridae of the Hepacivirus and Pestivirus genera contain internal ribosomal entry sites (IRESs) that are unrelated to the two principal classes of IRESs of Picornaviridae. The mechanism of translation initiation on hepacivirus/pestivirus (HP) IRESs, which involves factor-independent binding to ribosomal 40S subunits, also differs fundamentally from initiation on these picornavirus IRESs. Ribosomal binding to HP IRESs requires conserved sequences that form a pseudoknot and the adjacent IIId and IIIe domains; analogous elements do not occur in the two principal groups of picornavirus IRESs. Here, comparative sequence analysis was used to identify a subset of picornaviruses from multiple genera that contain 5′ UTR sequences with significant similarities to HP IRESs. They are avian encephalomyelitis virus, duck hepatitis virus 1, duck picornavirus, porcine teschovirus, porcine enterovirus 8, Seneca Valley virus, and simian picornavirus. Their 5′ UTRs are predicted to form several structures, in some of which the peripheral elements differ from the corresponding HP IRES elements but in which the core pseudoknot, domain IIId, and domain IIIe elements are all closely related. These findings suggest that HP-like IRESs have been exchanged between unrelated virus families by recombination and support the hypothesis that RNA viruses consist of modular coding and noncoding elements that can exchange and evolve independently.
Implementing a Simulation Study Using Multiple Software Packages for Structural Equation Modeling

A Monte Carlo simulation study is an essential tool for evaluating the behavior of various quantitative methods including structural equation modeling (SEM) under various conditions. Typically, a large number of replications are recommended for a Monte Carlo simulation study, and therefore automating a Monte Carlo simulation study is important to get the desired number of replications for a simulation study. This article is intended to provide concrete examples for automating a Monte Carlo simulation study using some standard software packages for SEM: Mplus, LISREL, SAS PROC CALIS, and R package lavaan. Also, the equivalence between the multilevel SEM and hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) is discussed, and relevant examples are provided. It is hoped that the codes in this article can provide some building blocks for researchers to write their own code to automate simulation procedures.
Soft Decoding, Dual BCH Codes, and Better List-Decodable e-Biased Codes

We construct binary linear codes that are efficiently list- decodable up to a fraction (1/2 - epsiv) of errors. The codes encode k bits into n = poly(k/epsiv) bits and are constructible and list-decodable in time polynomial in k and 1/epsiv (in particular, in our results epsiv need not be constant and can even be polynomially small in n). Our results give the best known polynomial dependence of n on k and 1/epsiv for such codes. Specifically, we are able to achieve n les O(k3/epsiv3+gamma) or, if a linear dependence on k is required, n les O (k/epsiv5+gamma), where gamma > 0 is an arbitrary constant. The best previously known constructive bounds in this setting were n les O(k2/epsiv4) and n les O(k/ epsiv6). Non-constructively, a random linear encoding of length n = O(k/epsiv2) suffices, but no sub-exponential algorithm is known for list decoding random codes. Our construction with a cubic dependence on epsiv is obtained by concatenating the recent Parvaresh-Vardy (PV) codes with dual BCH codes, and crucially exploits the soft decoding algorithm for PV codes. This result yields better hardness results for the problem of approximating NP witnesses in the model of Kumar and Sivakumar. Our result with the linear dependence on k is based on concatenation of the PV code with an arbitrary inner code of good minimum distance. In addition to being a basic question in coding theory, codes that are list-decodable from a fraction (1/2 - epsiv) of errors for epsiv rarr 0 have found many uses in complexity theory. In addition, our codes have the property that all nonzero codewords have relative Hamming weights in the range (1/2 - epsiv, 1/2 + epsiv); this epsiv-biased property is a fundamental notion in pseudorandomness.
Blame and the Criminal Law

Many retributivists appear to presume that the concept of blame that figures in their accounts of just punishment is the same one people employ in their interpersonal moral relationships. David Shoemaker contends that this presumption is mistaken. Moral blameworthiness, he maintains, tracks only the meaning of a person's action––his reasons for acting as he did––while criminal blameworthiness, which he equates with liability to punishment, tracks only the impermissibility of an agent's action. I contest the second of these two claims, and in doing so defend the retributivists’ presumption. First, I argue that the purpose of a criminal trial can be plausibly construed as establishing that the defendant is morally blameworthy for criminal conduct by eliminating reasons to think she is not. Second, I defend the claim that the criminal law should punish people for their failure to act with proper regard for others’ legally protected interests against Shoemaker's arguments to the contrary. Finally, I show that...
MMSE - Mini-Mental State Examination

The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is a commonly used test for screening cognitive impairment and dementia. The questions assess different cognitive areas such as orientation, attention, memory, language, and visuoconstruction. The MMSE is helpful in scaling cognitive impairment, documenting cognitive changes over time, and assessing the effects of therapeutic agents on cognition.
POPULATION-LEVEL CHARACTERISTICS OF DASYMUTILLA NIGRIPES, D. VESTA, AND TIMULLA VAGANS (HYMENOPTERA: MUTILLIDAE)

Abstract A total of 308 females and 182 males of Dasymutilla nigripes (Fab.), D. vesta (Cresson), and Timulla vagans (Fab.) (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) were collected during 1996 and 1997 in a cleared vacant lot in a deciduous forest in Maryland. Mandibles of females abraded at rates that varied with time of year but were very similar for all members of any given cohort at any specific time. The number of generations varied from 1 to 3 per year depending on the species and year. Some adult females of each species overwintered, and during one 15-day period in 1996 overwintered females of D. vesta were estimated to constitute more than 60% of the total female population. Exceptional females were estimated to live as long as 10 to 12 months although 2 to 2 1/2 months was more typical. In early and mid-season, males generally emerged synchronously with females, but relatively few males were collected during late-season emergences of females. In some cases, discrete size ranges of adults indicated that as many a...
Synthesis of Broadband True-3D Metamaterial Artificial Magnetic Conductor Ground Planes Using Genetic Programming

The development and use of genetic programming (GP) software to synthesize true-3D artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) ground planes is presented, with the focus on achieving a lower frequency response (particularly in the high VHF to low UHF bands), low-profile, broadband designs without the use of absorbing or magnetic materials. Metallic 3D patterns are embedded in one or more substrate layers with a PEC bottom, and the patterning in the unit cell is allowed to extend into neighboring unit cells, thus achieving a lower frequency response with much smaller unit cell size and thickness. Four designs synthesized using the developed GP software are presented with achieved bandwidths ranging from 32.7% to 71.1% when using the ±90 ° reflection phase criterion. Further, it is shown that through the use of a parametric study, the center frequency (0 ° reflection phase) of one of the designs can be reduced from 381.3 MHz to 87.8 MHz, which is a 77% reduction. The edge of the square unit cell size for this miniaturized design is λ0/51 and the thickness is λ0/61 at 83.9 MHz.
Photodissociation Dynamics of Phenol: Multistate Trajectory Simulations including Tunneling

We report multistate trajectory simulations, including coherence, decoherence, and multidimensional tunneling, of phenol photodissociation dynamics. The calculations are based on full-dimensional anchor-points reactive potential surfaces and state couplings fit to electronic structure calculations including dynamical correlation with an augmented correlation-consistent polarized valence double-ζ basis set. The calculations successfully reproduce the experimentally observed bimodal character of the total kinetic energy release spectra and confirm the interpretation of the most recent experiments that the photodissociation process is dominated by tunneling. Analysis of the trajectories uncovers an unexpected dissociation pathway for one quantum excitation of the O–H stretching mode of the S1 state, namely, tunneling in a coherent mixture of states starting in a smaller ROH (∼0.9–1.0 A) region than has previously been invoked. The simulations also show that most trajectories do not pass close to the S1–S2 co...
Resonant dispersive effects in optically pumped Yb:KYW

We measured Yb:KYW’s pump power dependent group-velocity dispersion (GVD) using white-light interferometry around 1030 nm. Resonant contributions from the laser transitions changed the GVD by 100’s of fs2.
153 Visuospatial and Executive Function in Adolescent Patients with Congenital Heart Disease

Background and aims Visuospatial deficits have been described for 8 year-old patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) after bypass surgery based on the performance in the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test (ROCFT). It is unknown whether these deficits persist into adolescence and which scoring systems is optimal to score performance in the ROCFT. We therefore performed ROCFT in adolescent CHD patients and healthy controls, and compared performance according to three different scoring methods. Methods We examined 53 adolescents (mean age 13.7 years, 44% male, 50% cyanotic CHD) with CHD after open-heart surgery (mean age at surgery: 1.4 years) and 32 healthy subjects. ROCFT was scored according to three different validated scoring methods. Results Results varied markedly between the scoring methods. When scored according to Meyers & Meyers, patients performed significantly worse than controls in the copy task (p=0.03), whereas no significant differences were found in the memory task. Scoring according to Wallon and Mesmin showed clear differences between subjects and controls with respect to the approach how to construct the figure: 78% of CHD patients (controls: 47%) displayed a unstructured or intermediate approach to drawing the figure, whereas only 22% of CHD patients (controls: 53%) chose a complex approach (p=0.001). Scoring according to Bernstein et al. showed no differences between groups. Conclusions Adolescents with surgically treated CHD demonstrate deficits in visuospatial and executive function. The ROCFT provides information on different functional aspects, which cannot adequately be assessed with one single scoring method.
A Field-Expedient algorithmic approach to the clinical management of chemical and biological casualties

Warriors on the modern battlefield face considerable danger from possible attack with chemical and biological weapons. Aggravating this danger is the fact that medical resources at the lowest echelons of care, already likely to be strained to capacity during modern conventional combat, are at present inadequate to handle large numbers of chemical or biological casualties. Complicating this problem further is the austere nature of diagnostic modalities available at lower echelons, With this in mind, and given the urgency required to adequately manage chemical and biological casualties, it is likely that such casualties will initially require significant empiric care in the absence of a definitive diagnosis. Such care under field conditions, often rendered by relatively inexperienced medical personnel, might best be provided using an algorithmic approach. We have developed such an algorithm.
Limits of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells for Gene Expression-Based Biomarkers in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is one of the most common chronic disease conditions affecting children in the USA. As with many rheumatic diseases, there is growing interest in using genomic technologies to develop biomarkers for either diagnosis or to guide treatment (“personalized medicine”). Here, we explore the use of gene expression patterns in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as a first step approach to developing such biomarkers. Although PBMC carry many theoretical advantages for translational research, we have found that sample heterogeneity makes RNASeq on PBMC unsuitable as a first-step method for screening biomarker candidates in JIA. RNASeq studies of homogeneous cell populations are more likely to be useful and informative.
A Poch@ Pop Preface: Si se puede

Chapter 1 introduces poch@ as the growing Latin@ audience in the U.S. and those pop culture artists who reflect their experiences. Autobiographical material about the author illuminates intersections among popular culture, humor, and political and social realities. The trope of pocho, pocha, or poch@ reemerges as a self-identifier for Latin@ pop culture producers who respond and resist rhetoric framing Latin@s as deficient.
Comparison of regional skeletal muscle tissue oxygenation in college athletes and sedentary control subjects using quantitative BOLD MR imaging

Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging permits noninvasive assessment of tissue oxygenation. We hypothesized that BOLD imaging would allow for regional evaluation of differences in skeletal muscle oxygenation between athletes and sedentary control subjects, and dynamic BOLD responses to ischemia (i.e., proximal cuff occlusion) and reactive hyperemia (i.e., rapid cuff deflation) would relate to lower extremity function, as assessed by jumping ability. College football athletes (linemen, defensive backs/wide receivers) were compared to sedentary healthy controls. BOLD signal of the gastrocnemius, soleus, anterior tibialis, and peroneus longus was assessed for peak hyperemic value (PHV), time to peak (TTP), minimum ischemic value (MIV), and time to recovery (TTR). Significantly higher PHVs were identified in athletes versus controls for the gastrocnemius (linemen, 15.8 ± 9.1%; defensive backs/wide receivers, 17.9 ± 5.1%; controls, 7.4 ± 3.5%), soleus (linemen, 25.9 ± 11.5%; backs/receivers, 22.0 ± 9.4%; controls, 12.9 ± 5.8%), and anterior tibialis (linemen, 12.8 ± 5.3%; backs/receivers, 12.6 ± 3.9%; controls, 7.7 ± 4.0%), whereas no differences in PHV were found for the peroneus longus (linemen, 14.1 ± 6.9%; backs/receivers, 11.7 ± 4.6%; controls, 9.0 ± 4.9%). In all subject groups, the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles exhibited the lowest MIVs during cuff occlusion. No differences in TTR were found between muscles for any subject group. PHV of the gastrocnemius muscle was significantly and positively related to maximal vertical (r = 0.56, P = 0.002) and broad jump (r = 0.47, P = 0.01). These results suggest that BOLD MR imaging is a useful noninvasive tool for evaluating differences in tissue oxygenation of specific muscles between active and sedentary individuals, and peak BOLD responses may relate to functional capacity.
Impact of Intraoperative Steroids on Postoperative Infection Rates and Length of Hospital Stay: A Study of 1200 Spine Surgery Patients.

Objective The use of intraoperative steroids and their effects are relatively unknown and remain controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of intraoperative steroid use on postoperative complications and length of hospital stay after spine surgery. Methods Medical records of 1200 adult patients undergoing spine surgery at Duke University Medical Center during the period 2008–2010 were retrospectively reviewed; 495 (41.25%) patients were administered intraoperative steroids, and 705 (58.75%) patients were not administered intraoperative steroids. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and postoperative complication rates were collected. The primary outcomes investigated were postoperative complications, specifically length of hospital stay and infection rates. Results Patient demographics were similar between both cohorts. Comorbidities were also similar, with the intraoperative steroid use cohort having a higher number of patients with long-term steroid use than the no intraoperative steroid use cohort (6.95% [no steroids] vs. 13.74% [steroid use], P P = 0.0025), lower rates of urinary tract infections (10.37% [no steroids] vs. 6.88% [steroid use], P = 0.040), and lower rates of other infections that were not deep or superficial surgical site infections (9.22% [no steroids] vs. 6.06% [steroid use], P = 0.0460). Conclusions Patients who receive intraoperative steroids have shorter hospital stays and lower infection rates after spine surgery.
Circulation Plays an Essential Role in Distributing Mammalian Yolk Sac Definitive Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells to the Embryo Proper; Using the Ncx1 Knockout Mouse Model To Prevent Circulation.

The yolk sac is the lone site of primitive hematopoiesis. The role of the yolk sac in generating definitive hematopoietic progenitors, however, has remained controversial. One complicating factor preventing an accurate investigation of this subject has been the onset of early circulation which alters the localization of hematopoietic progenitors. An Ncx1 knockout mouse (which fails to initiate a heartbeat) is used here to investigate the temporal and spatial distribution of definitive hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs: adult type BFU-E, CFU-GM, CFU-GEMM) in an environment lacking circulation. Embryos were harvested from timed pregnancies from Ncx1 heterozygote crosses beginning at the onset of circulation 8.5 days post conception (E8.5) and ending 36 hours later (E10). Developmental age was determined by somite pair number. All embryos were carefully separated from their yolk sacs and both samples were digested and plated in methylcellulose using a previously published definitive hematopoietic progenitor colony assay. Colonies were counted at seven days and then collected for genotyping. In embryos of all genotypes at E8.5, definitive HPCs were enriched more than 28 fold in the yolk sac compared to the embryo proper (EP), but following redistribution by a functional circulation in E10 wild type and heterozygous embryos, the ratio drops to a 3 fold enrichment in the yolk sac (similar to the 3–5 fold enrichment previously reported at this age; KM & JP, Blood 2003). Ncx1 null embryos lacking circulation produced few HPCs in the EP and never redistribute the HPCs as late as E10 resulting in a 72 fold enrichment in the yolk sac even at E10. Whole mount ζ-hemoglobin mRNA staining was carried out to visualize the distribution of blood cells in the yolk sac and embryo proper in the presence and absence of circulation. The staining pattern in null embryos confirms that cells from the yolk sac blood band remain in the yolk sac and are not found in the EP. Our findings support a model in which the primitive and definitive hematopoietic progenitors are generated in the yolk sac and are only redistributed to the EP upon the onset of circulation. Not only is the yolk sac an important source of definitive HPCs, it is the developing embryo’s primary source through E10.
A Web-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Spanish-Speaking Latinas: A Costs and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

Background: Latinas report particularly low levels of physical activity and suffer from greater rates of lifestyle-related conditions such as obesity and diabetes. Interventions are needed that can increase physical activity in this growing population in a large-scale, cost-effective manner. Web-based interventions may have potential given the increase in Internet use among Latinas and the scalability of Web-based programs. Objective: To examine the costs and cost-effectiveness of a Web-based, Spanish-language physical activity intervention for Latinas compared to a wellness contact control. Methods: Healthy adult Latina women (N=205) were recruited from the community and randomly assigned to receive a Spanish-language, Web-based, individually tailored physical activity intervention (intervention group) or were given access to a website with content on wellness topics other than physical activity (control group). Physical activity was measured using the 7-Day Physical Activity Recall interview and ActiGraph accelerometers at baseline, 6 months (ie, postintervention), and 12 months (ie, maintenance phase). Costs were estimated from a payer perspective and included all features necessary to implement the intervention in a community setting, including staff time (ie, wages, benefits, and overhead), materials, hardware, website hosting, and routine website maintenance. Results: At 6 months, the costs of running the intervention and control groups were US $17 and US $8 per person per month, respectively. These costs fell to US $12 and US $6 per person per month at 12 months, respectively. Linear interpolation showed that intervention participants increased their physical activity by 1362 total minutes at 6 months (523 minutes by accelerometer) compared to 715 minutes for control participants (186 minutes by accelerometer). At 6 months, each minute increase in physical activity for the intervention group cost US $0.08 (US $0.20 by accelerometer) compared to US $0.07 for control participants (US $0.26 by accelerometer). Incremental cost-per-minute increases associated with the intervention were US $0.08 at 6 months and US $0.04 at 12 months (US $0.16 and US $0.08 by accelerometer, respectively). Sensitivity analyses showed variations in staffing costs or intervention effectiveness yielded only modest changes in incremental costs. Conclusions: While the Web-based physical activity intervention was more expensive than the wellness control, both were quite low cost compared to face-to-face or mail-delivered interventions. Cost-effectiveness ranged markedly based on physical activity measure and was similar between the two conditions. Overall, the Web-based intervention was effective and low cost, suggesting a promising channel for increasing physical activity on a large scale in this at-risk population. ClinicalTrial: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01834287; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01834287 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6nyjX9Jrh) [J Med Internet Res 2017;19(2):e43]
Influenza vaccination in egg-allergic patients : current guidelines, case report and discussion : short report

The inactivated Influenza vaccine is manufactured via propagation of the virus in hen's egg, hence there is a potential for the vaccine to contain residual egg protein. As such, there has been much confusion about the use and safety of the influenza vaccine in egg allergic patients. Egg allergic patients are at increased risk of co-morbid atopic conditions such as asthma, which is a common indication for the influenza vaccine. This short report presents an illustrative case of a child with egg allergy requiring an influenza vaccine, and describes the latest indications and guidelines for the influenza vaccine in egg allergic patients.
Spectrum Policy and Regulatory Issues

Most wireless engineers are aware that national regulations in their country impose requirements on spectrum availability and equipment parameters, but may be unaware of the technical problems such regulations were intended to address. The general goals of such spectrum regulations from the beginning of most formal regulation in the aftermath of the Titanic sinking in 1912 have been, and remain today, to avoid interference and maximize the use of available spectrum. In this issue’s column we will focus on interference issue. Cochannel interference is the most obvious case, and life in spectrum policy would be very simple if radio propagation was monotonic with distance and deterministic and all interference could be prevented by keeping cochannel stations far enough away from each other.
AUC Regression for Multiple Comparisons With the Jonckheere Trend Test

ABSTRACTA problem that often arises from dose-control studies is that of determining differences in the K > 2 treatment arms (increasing dose amounts) when adjusting for covariate effects. Recent results for a covariate adjusted Jonckhere Trend Test (JT) provides a useful means for modeling this problem. In this article, we present a multiple comparison for the K treatment arms that controls the family-wise error rate. The new method is compared with two existing rank-based nonparametric multiple comparison procedures using simulated data, an example from one of the existing methods, and several examples as motivated by problems found in clinical settings.
SiOC CMP developed and implemented in 7nm and beyond

In this study, new SiOC Chemical Mechanical Planarization (CMP) process is fully developed with the characterization of the blanket wafer selectivity, SiN loss on pattern wafer, within chip SiN uniformity, and topography of CMP house and device areas using Atomic-force microscopy (AFM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution profiler (HRP) and KLA-Aleris. Those results of SiN within-chip uniformity show one step process (only slurry A_bulk + SiN stop) with poor process window, which cannot meet 7nm MOL integration process requirement. And two steps process (Slurry A_bulk + Slurry B_SiN stop) with promising results, good SiN within-chip uniformity (< 2nm) and wide process overpolish margin.
Using prerecorded hemodynamic response functions in detecting prefrontal pain response: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study

Currently, there is no method for providing a nonverbal objective assessment of pain. Recent work using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has revealed its potential for objective measures. We conducted two fNIRS scans separated by 30 min and measured the hemodynamic response to the electrical noxious and innocuous stimuli over the anterior prefrontal cortex (aPFC) in 14 subjects. Based on the estimated hemodynamic response functions (HRFs), we first evaluated the test–retest reliability of using fNIRS in measuring the pain response over the aPFC. We then proposed a general linear model (GLM)-based detection model that employs the subject-specific HRFs from the first scan to detect the pain response in the second scan. Our results indicate that fNIRS has a reasonable reliability in detecting the hemodynamic changes associated with noxious events, especially in the medial portion of the aPFC. Compared with a standard HRF with a fixed shape, including the subject-specific HRFs in the GLM allows for a significant improvement in the detection sensitivity of aPFC pain response. This study supports the potential application of individualized analysis in using fNIRS and provides a robust model to perform objective determination of pain perception.
Aeromonas and Plesiomonas

Publisher Summary Aeromonas species are now recognized as important causes of intestinal and extraintestinal illnesses in humans, which include bacteraemia and wound infections. Aeromonas are also responsible for major die-off of pond fish, carp, and salmonids and occasionally they can cause sporadic and epizootic disease in mammals, reptiles, amphibian, and birds. Identification charts for Aeromonas species frequently or occasionally found in clinical material are outmined in this chapter. Aeromonas septicaemia is almost invariably a disease associated with debilitated hosts, especially in those with haematological malignancies or hepatobiliary disease. The first well-documented cases of P. shigelloides infection involved a case of cellulitis associated with a head wound. Most often, this unusual pathogen appears to cause sporadic cases of gastroenteritis and on rare occasions may be associated with outbreak disease. Less frequently plesiomonads are implicated in systemic infections, such as septicaemia in persons with one or more underlying complications.. The main routes of transmission include freshwater and marine sources and inhabitants of those niches including fish, shellfish, amphibia, and reptiles. Control of such low-incidence disease is dependent upon better hygienic conditions including the sanitary treatment of potable water sources and the appropriate cooking of shellfish.
Combined Liver Resection and Portal Vein Resection

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma is a difficult technical challenge for the hepatobiliary surgeon. Achieving negative surgical margins with tumor resection is demanding due to the close proximity of the bile duct bifurcation to the vascular inflow of the liver. As recently as 2001, patients with main portal vein involvement proximal to the bifurcation were considered to be unresectable [1]. However, as portal vein resection was employed in the resection of other hepatobiliary and pancreatic tumors with success, the same principles were extended to hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Although portal vein resection may increase the risks of the resection, this procedure increases the number of patients with potentially resectable disease, and remains the only hope for long-term survival in this uncommon cancer. This chapter will review the indications, surgical technique, and outcomes of portal vein resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma, as well as a brief review of arterial resection.
Exploring the Hidden Dimension in Accelerating Convolutional Neural Networks

DeePa is a deep learning framework that explores parallelism in all parallelizable dimensions to accelerate the training process of convolutional neural networks. DeePa optimizes parallelism at the granularity of each individual layer in the network. We present an elimination-based algorithm that finds an optimal parallelism configuration for every layer. Our evaluation shows that DeePa achieves up to 6.5× speedup compared to state-of-the-art deep learning frameworks and reduces data transfers by up to 23×.
Three-dimensional evaluation of root position at the reset appointment without radiographs: a proof-of-concept study

Accurate root position is integral for successful orthodontic treatment. Current methods of monitoring root position are either inaccurate, exhibit poor resolution, or use relatively large amount of radiation relative to the benefits for the patient. The purpose of this study was to present an approach that can monitor root position during orthodontic treatment with minimal radiation. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were taken for a patient at pre-treatment and at a dedicated reset appointment. An extra-oral laser scan of a poured up cast was taken at the reset appointment. An expected root position (ERP) setup, an approximation of the root position at the reset appointment, was generated using the pre-treatment CBCT scan and reset appointment cast. The ERP setup was compared to the CBCT scan taken at the reset appointment which served as the control. Color displacement maps were generated to measure any differences between the expected and true root positions. Color map displacement analysis after indirect superimposition found displacement differences of 0.021 mm ± 0.396 mm for the maxillary roots and 0.079 mm ± 0.499 mm for the mandibular roots. This approach was demonstrated in a patient at the reset appointment to have the potential to accurately monitor root positions during treatment in three dimensions without the need for additional radiographs.
APPROACHES TO THE SYNTHESIS OF TOPOLOGICALLY SPHERICAL MOLECULES. RECENT ADVANCES IN THE CHEMISTRY OF DODECAHEDRANE

Abstract In this lecture, an account is presented of the high points in our progress towards the synthesis of the pentagonal dodecahedrane. The point of furthest advance is represented by the obtention of monosecodo-decahedrane 50 , a molecule which possesses eighteen cis-syn locked methine groups and lacks only a final carbon-carbon bond.
When Life Gets in the Way: The Complexities of Supporting Families Who Have a Child with Autism and Live in Poverty

This chapter discusses the challenges that families of very young children with autism who are living in poverty face when trying to support the child as well as the complexities that practitioners face when working with these families. What is known about the challenges of autism for families and the challenges of poverty for families is examined. Evidenced-based family-centered practices that when used by practitioners enhance parents’ confidence and competence are presented. In the last section, scenarios where family-centered practices are helpful when early interventionists are dealing with these complex situations are presented.
Investigation of Broad Autism Phenotype Traits as Measured by the 26-Item Autism Quotient:

The extant literature regarding psychometric properties of measures of subclinical adult autism traits is sparse. The current study investigated the validity and internal consistency reliability of...
Evaluation of possible prognostic factors in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (univariate and multivariate analysis).

e18015 Background: Malnutrition is a common complication in critically ill and in-patients with malignancy, associated increase the hospital stay and adding more financial burden to the health care...
Advances in the Surgical Treatment of Neuroblastoma

Abstract The management of neuroblastoma requires a multidisciplinary approach led by the pediatric surgeon. Surgical biopsy and resection are essential to characterize the tumor, stratify patient risk, and guide the oncologic treatment and supportive procedures. This chapter will describe the role of surgical intervention in the management of neuroblastoma and recent advances in the field.
Microscopic Potentials and Radiation

The microscopic Maxwell equations consist of a set of coupled first-order partial differential equations relating the electric and magnetic field vectors that comprise the electromagnetic field to each other as well as to their charge and current sources. Their solution is often facilitated by the introduction of auxiliary fields known as potentials. These potentials have their origin in the two homogeneous equations ∇⋅b = 0 and ∇×e = −∥1∕c∥∂b∕∂t which indicate that not all of the components of the field vectors e and b are entirely independent.
The role of Psalms 135-137 in the shape and shaping of Book V of the Hebrew Psalter

Book V of the Psalter (Pss 107-150) is an interesting collection of psalms. After the opening Ps 107, celebrating God’s rescue of humanity from various dangerous situations, psalms attributed to David appear again after a virtual absence since Book II. These Davidic psalms (Pss 108-110 and 138-145) “frame” a grouping of festival psalms that are introduced by two brief alphabetic acrostics (Pss 111 and 112). Seemingly tucked away just after the Songs of Ascents (Pss 120-134), and before the resumption of psalms of David, lie Psalms 135-137, two magnificent community hymns followed by a heartfelt community lament. This essay explores the role of these psalms in the “shape” and “shaping” of the story of the Psalter. It will conclude that the psalms offer a highly stylized recitation of Israel’s history that made a world for the postexilic community, recounting Yahweh’s work in creation, summarizing the Pentateuchal stories of the ancestors (Pss 135-136) and providing a snapshot of exilic life in Babylon (Ps 137). Their assurance of Yahweh’s presence and provisions allow David, in Psalms 138-145, to lead the postexilic people in blessing, praise, and thanks to the sovereign God. https://doi.org/10.17159/2312-3621/2019/v32n2a20
Nursing Assistants’ Use of Personal Protective Equipment Regarding Contact With Excreta Contaminated With Antineoplastic Drugs

Purpose To examine the feasibility of observing and interviewing nursing assistants about handling of antineoplastic drugs contaminated with excreta, acceptability of a measure of personal protective equipment (PPE) use with nursing assistants, and predictors of PPE use. Participants & setting 27 nursing assistants in an inpatient hematology-oncology unit at an academic medical center in the southeastern United States. Methodologic approach This was an exploratory, multimethod study using observation, verbally administered questionnaires, and interviews. Research variables included recruitment rates, acceptability of observation, and understandability of a safe-handling instrument. Findings Observed use of double gloves, chemotherapy gowns, and face shields was low; use of plastic-backed pads when flushing excreta was high. Implications for nursing Nursing assistants are willing to participate in research. Standardized training and education about PPE use are needed.
Use of Ligand Steric Properties to Control the Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Oxidative Addition and Reductive Elimination with Pincer-Ligated Rh Complexes

Oxidative addition and reductive elimination reactions are central steps in many catalytic processes, and controlling the energetics of reaction intermediates is key to enabling efficient catalysis...
Is It ‘A Marriage of True Minds’? Balanced Reading in Northanger Abbey and Persuasion

Jane Austen often uses reading as a way to develop her characters. For instance, in Persuasion, Captain Benwick’s melancholic disposition is revealed through his partiality for Romantic poetry, but Anne Elliot’s value for balance is expressed when she recommends moral essays. Other times, and not unfrequently, characters’ reading choice falls on the works of William Shakespeare—such as Hamlet, which Willoughby reads to Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility, and the excerpts from Elegant Extracts we learn that Northanger Abbey’s Catherine Morland has memorized.
Evaluation of Silicon Photomultiplier Technology for Laser Scanning Microscopy

Photomultiplier tubes are the standard for high sensitivity detection of fluorescence signals, but are costly, fragile, have limited QE and worse sensitivity at far-red wavelengths. Silicon photomultipliers (SIPMs) combine the higher shot-noise limited sensitivity of silicon sensors with the single photon sensitivity of PMTs and can provide higher SNR over a range of common confocal and multiphoton applications. We show how to design low cost electronics that enable extremely high sensitivity, dynamic range, and bandwidth and discuss how to customize high sensitivity detectors for high speed fluorescent imaging.
Orientation prediction of fracture initiation from perforated horizontal wells: Application in shale reservoirs

Abstract For maximum productivity enhancement when targeting low permeability formations, horizontal wells must be made to induce multiple transverse fractures. An orientation criterion for fracture initiation is developed using analytically-derived approximations for the longitudinal and transverse fracturing stresses for perforated wellbores from the literature. The validity of the criterion is assessed numerically and is found to overestimate transverse fracture initiation, which occurs under a narrow range of conditions; pertaining to low breakdown pressure and low formation tensile strength. A three-dimensional numerical model shows that contrary to existing approximations, the transverse fracturing stress from perforated horizontal wells becomes more compressive as wellbore pressure increases. This shrinks the “breakdown pressure window,” which is the range of wellbore pressures over which transverse fracture initiation takes place. This creates a second constraint for transverse fracture initiation, which is the "critical tensile strength" value. This determines the maximum formation tensile strength at which transverse fracture initiation is possible for a given in-situ stress state and perforation direction. Sensitivity analyses are performed based on data from seven unconventional shale reservoirs (Barnett, Bakken, Fayetteville, Haynesville, Niobrara, Marcellus and Vaca Muerta) for horizontal wells drilled parallel to S h m i n . The frequent longitudinal fracture initiation occurrence indicated suggests fracture reorientation in the near-wellbore region to be a common event, through which the propagating fractures become aligned with the preferred fracture plane (perpendicular to the least compressive principal stress). This induces near-wellbore fluid tortuosity, which in turn can lead to completions and production-related problems, such as early screenouts and post-stimulation well underperformance.