cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toward traffic-driven location-based web search

The emergence of location sharing services is rapidly accelerating the convergence of our online and offline activities. In one direction, Foursquare, Google Latitude, Facebook Places, and related services are enriching real-world venues with the social and semantic connections among online users. In analogy to how clickstreams have been successfully incorporated into traditional web ranking based on content and link analysis, we propose to mine traffic patterns revealed through location sharing services to augment traditional location-based search. Concretely, we study location-based traffic patterns revealed through location sharing services and find that these traffic patterns can identify semantically related locations. Based on this observation, we propose and evaluate a traffic-driven location clustering algorithm that can group semantically related locations with high confidence. Through experimental study of 12 million locations from Foursquare, we extend this result through supervised location categorization, wherein traffic patterns can be used to accurately predict the semantic category of uncategorized locations. Based on these results, we show how traffic-driven semantic organization of locations may be naturally incorporated into location-based web search.
Analysis of Stress Patterns in the Human Mandible

Replicas of a dentate human mandible were prepared in photoelastic resin material. They were positioned in a supporting frame by means of struts, representing the principal muscles of mastication. Occlusal loading was simulated, and the stresses generated within the models were examined by three-dimensional photoelastic stress analysis.
In situ X-ray synchrotron diffraction study of MgB2 synthesis from elemental powders

The kinetics of MgB2 synthesis is studied in situ by synchrotron X-ray diffraction, using pressed compacts of 200–400 lm magnesium powders mixed with three types of submicrometer, amorphous, high-purity boron powders. Reaction times for commercially available and plasma-synthesized boron powders decreases from 100 to 2 min as temperature increases from 670 to 900 C. They can be described by diffusion-controlled models of a reacting sphere with kinetics characterized by diffusion coefficients increasing with temperature from 2 � 10 � 17 to 3 � 10 � 16 m 2 s � 1 , with activation energies of 123–143 kJ mol � 1 . Plasma-synthesized boron powders doped with 7.4 at.% car
Altered visual function in monocarboxylate transporter 3 (Slc16a8) knockout mice

To meet the high-energy demands of photoreceptor cells, the outer retina metabolizes glucose through glycolytic and oxidative pathways, resulting in large-scale production of lactate and CO2. Mct3,...
A tactile sensor for localizing transient events in manipulation

This paper presents a tactile sensor that provides transient event information at the finger-object interface. The multi-element stress rate sensor consists of piezoelectric polymer strips moulded into the surface of the rubber "skin" covering the robot finger tip. These piezoelectric elements provide localized information important to manipulation control. We provide experimental results confirming the sensor's ability to detect three parameters. Contact events have been detected for signaling transitions between position and force control. Detecting local skin curvature provided information regarding contact shape and area. Finally, incipient slip, which is generated by small micro slips prior to gross slip, has been detected. By sensing all of these parameters, the utility of the multi-element stress rate sensor seems promising. >
The human ARF tumor suppressor senses blastema activity and suppresses epimorphic tissue regeneration

The control of proliferation and differentiation by tumor suppressor genes suggests that evolution of divergent tumor suppressor repertoires could influence species' regenerative capacity. To directly test that premise, we humanized the zebrafish p53 pathway by introducing regulatory and coding sequences of the human tumor suppressor ARF into the zebrafish genome. ARF was dormant during development, in uninjured adult fins, and during wound healing, but was highly expressed in the blastema during epimorphic fin regeneration after amputation. Regenerative, but not developmental signals resulted in binding of zebrafish E2f to the human ARF promoter and activated conserved ARF-dependent Tp53 functions. The context-dependent activation of ARF did not affect growth and development but inhibited regeneration, an unexpected distinct tumor suppressor response to regenerative versus developmental environments. The antagonistic pleiotropic characteristics of ARF as both tumor and regeneration suppressor imply that inducing epimorphic regeneration clinically would require modulation of ARF -p53 axis activation.
Assessing public health knowledge and perceptions of pharmacy students before and after completion of didactic and experiential public health coursework

Abstract Objectives To characterize baseline public health knowledge and to evaluate changes in pharmacy student performance after participation in one semester of didactic and experiential public health coursework. Methods Third-year professional students were surveyed before and after fall semester 2013, a semester in which they completed two public health courses. Results Total public health knowledge score increased from 61.5% to 65.2% ( p = 0.006). An increase in mean knowledge score was significant for the domains of social and behavioral science, and epidemiology, but not for the domains of biostatistics, environmental health, and health policy. Students initially perceived the pharmacy curriculum to do the best at preparing them in epidemiology, but this perception changed to social and behavioral science after taking the public health courses. Conclusion A semester of focused public health exposure increased knowledge scores in public health topics by 3.7%. Perceptions about public health education in the pharmacy curriculum were also changed.
The Vagueness of Limits and the Desired Distribution of Conducts

This article examines the choice between rules and standards as a choice between precision and vagueness of a limit. The distinctive feature of limits is that they influence the conduct only of those individuals who would violate the limit. Vague limits allow a gradual transition from undeterred conducts to fully deterred conducts and, thus, provide customized compliance. The vagueness of a limit does not so much matter for the deterrence of a single individual, who can be driven to the same conduct with a variety of limit, precision, and penalty combinations, but for the overall distribution of conducts in a society. Unless the law seeks to concentrate or correlate conducts, limits should be vague in order to preserve the distribution of individuals? preferences. This conclusion directly supports vagueness which, despite its frequency, has been considered undesirable. In addition to misplaced limits, three phenomena are identified that frustrate the concentrating role of limits: Fixed penalties, whether partially or completely fixed; imprecisely enforced limits; and procedure (trials with multiple steps). Increased uncertainty mitigates the dispersing effects of these everyday phenomena providing further justification for the frequency of vagueness.
Electrolyte and Acid-Base Disorders

An overview of the principles of the diagnosis and management of severe electrolyte and acid-base problems in the critically ill is presented, stressing a pathophysiologic approach to an understanding of the problem in the individual patient.
Studies of Cell Source of Macrophages from Human Blood in Slide Chambers.

SummaryIn slide chambers the number of macrophages formed closely paralleled the number of monocytes present in the initial suspension. When most monocytes were removed by glass beads very few macrophages formed. When lymphocytes were removed by irradiation the number of macrophages formed corresponded to the number of monocytes at the start. Intermediate stages between lymphocytes and macrophages were never observed, whereas cells intermediate between monocyte and macrophage were regularly seen.
Marketing Career Counseling Services: I. The Role of Prompts

respectively, were 1 and 0 for the high-information-no-prompt condition (3%), 2 and 3 for the low-information-no-prompt condition ( 17%), 7 and 4 for the high-information-prompt condition (37%), and 6 and 6 for the low-information-prompt condition (40%). While there appeared to be a modest positive effecc for the flier over the letter (28% vs 20%; x2 = 1.13, p = n.s.), the use of the prompt increased attendance nearly fourfold over the noprompt condition ( 38% vs 10%; x2 = 13.14, p < .001). These results suggest that strategies can be employed to increase participation in on-campus services provided by support programs. The method of general announcement (e.g., letter vs flier) probably influences participation. A prompt (or information arriving close to the time of the program) may be more critical, however.
Environmental Fate of Gossyplure

The synthesized sex pheromone of the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), gossyplure, ( Z,Z -and Z,E -7,11-hexadecadien-1-ol acetate), was studied in relation to persistence in soil and water, soil leaching, and photodegradation. Half life of the complex in soil at 32°C was 1 day; in water it was 7 days. The major degradation product was identified as a mixture of ( Z,Z ) and ( Z,E )-7,11-hexadecadienol. No soil leaching was detected, and little, if any, photodegradation occurred.
What a Difference a Pronoun Makes: I/We Versus You/Me and Worried Couples’ Perceptions of Their Interaction Quality

Purpose: We investigate the role of pronoun use in people’s perceptions of relationship interaction quality, especially when partners experience worry. Method: Couples (N = 115) rated their anxiety and interaction quality and participated in a 15-minute problem-solving discussion. Results:Me-focus by actors and You-focus by actors and partners reliably correlated with perceived interaction quality. As well, a person’s own, but not his or her partner’s, worry moderated the association between pronoun use and perceived interaction quality. Pronoun use (actor You- and partner Me-focus) and perceived interaction quality were especially strongly associated for people with relatively lower levels of worry. A principal component analyses uncovered two underlying factors for pronouns: self-focus and other-focus. Actor–partner analyses using underlying factors corroborated the results for individual pronouns. Discussion: These results support previous findings that specific pronouns are related to worse outcomes, ...
Limitations and barriers in access to care for male factor infertility.

The primary challenge to identifying and addressing barriers in access to care for male factor infertility is accurate measurement of the prevalence of male infertility. Current estimates are based on couples pursuing assisted reproduction, and likely underestimate the problem. These estimates also fail to account for the number of patients facing infertility due to cancer or cancer treatment. Lack of health insurance coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility presents a major barrier for couples struggling with infertility. However, it is not the only barrier. Education level, household income, cultural norms, religious beliefs, geographic location, and the availability of specialty-trained reproductive urologists are all important factors in determining the ease with which patients access and obtain infertility care. Addressing each of these obstacles directly is imperative to improving reproductive care and outcomes for infertile couples in the United States.
The study on productivity of horizontal well with arbitrary orientation in seven-spot patterns

Based on the theories of Conformal Transformation Method,Mirror Image Method and Superposition Principle,the production behaviors of horizontal well in combined seven-spot patterns of horizontal and vertical wells were studied,and the productivity formulas of horizontal well with arbitrary orientation were derived.The influence of some factors on dimensionless productivity,such as orientation angle and dimensionless length of horizontal well,were investigated too.The results summarized by the paper may provide the theoretical basis for the practical application of horizontal well in oil development,especially for the productivity estimation of horizontal well with arbitrary orientation in combined seven-spot patterns of horizontal and vertical wells.
The conversion of hepatic cytochrome P-450 to P-420 in normal and phenobarbital- and 3-methylcholanthrene-treated animals.

The conversion of rat and rabbit hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 to P-420 by mercurials does not proceed to completion. The percentage of cytochrome P-450 resistant to mercurial attack was greater in rats than in rabbits. It was increased by prior treatment with phenobarbital and decreased when the animals had been treated with 3-methylcholanthrene. Correlative studies using ethyl isocyanide as a ligand for reduced cytochrome P-450 instead of carbon monoxide demonstrated a loss of the 455 nm absorbance maximum in this difference spectrum, closely paralleling the loss of cytochrome P-450. The loss of the 455 nm absorbance maximum, however, did not always result in an increase in the absorbance maximum at 430 nm. The effect of low concentrations of mersalyl on the electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum at -172° of microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated animals suggests the presence of an undetectable form of cytochrome P-450. The differences in the susceptibility of cytochrome P-450 from different sources to mercurial degradation probably reflect changes in the whole population of cytochrome P-450 present in the microsomes.
A test to identify persistent picky eaters

Background Picky eating is common and usually relatively brief as new foods are accepted. Persistent picky eating, however, is often associated with comorbid psychopathology.
Predictors of Poor Response to Depression Treatment in Primary Care

Objective:Depression is pervasive and costly, and the majority of depression is treated in primary care. The objective of this study was to identify patient characteristics predictive of poor depression outcomes in primary care clinics.Methods:This observational study followed 792 patients receiving usual care for depression in 83 clinics across Minnesota for at least six months between 2008 and 2010. The primary outcome was an ordinal outcome of remission or response without remission (“response”) six months after the start of treatment. The outcome was assessed via telephone administration of the Patient Health Questionnaire–9. Associations of patient characteristics with the primary outcome were assessed by using ordinal logistic regression.Results:The majority of patients were female, Caucasian, and employed, and most had some college education and good, very good, or excellent self-rated health. At baseline, 32% had mild depression, 40% moderate depression, 20% moderately severe depression, and 8% se...
Infaunal survival: alternative functions of shell ornamentation in the Bivalvia (Mollusca)

Two kinds of adaptation aid infaunal bivalve mollusks in sustaining their life positions against potentially disruptive water movements: (1) ability to retard scour of surrounding sediment and (2) ability to reburrow rapidly if exhumed. The shell of the venerid Anomalocardia brasiliana is ornamented with concentric ridges that are asymmetrical in cross-section; experiments show that these ridges aid the animal in burrowing by grip- ping the sediment during backward rotation of the shell. The shell of the less deeply burrowing venerid Chione cancellata also bears concentric ridges, but these are symmetrical and experiments show that they hinder burrowing; other experiments demonstrate that these ridges reduce scour of sand from around a partly exposed animal. The single cardiid species Trachycardium egmontianum possesses ad- aptations comparable to those of the two venerid species, in the form of spines of two varieties; experi- ments show that the flared anterior spines facilitate burrowing and the cupped posterior spines reduce scour. Conspicuous ornamentation of the kinds considered here was rare throughout the Paleozoic. Its evo- lutionary deployment occurred primarily during the post-Paleozoic adaptive diversification of infaunal bivalves, which was triggered by the evolution of efficient burrowing mechanisms. The general premium on maintaining infaunal life positions was accentuated for bivalves after the Paleozoic by the origins of important modern predatory taxa.
Economic Analysis of Grafted Tomato Production in Sandy Soils in Northern Florida

In addition to controlling soilborne diseases, grafting with selected rootstocks has the potential to enhance growth and yields in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) production. However, information is rather limited regarding its economic viability in different production systems in the United States. The objective of this study was to compare the costs and returns of grafted vs. nongrafted fresh-market tomato production under common management practices in fumigated fields in northern Florida. The field trials were conducted in Live Oak, FL, during Spring 2010 and 2011. ‘Florida 47’ tomato was grafted onto two interspecific hybrid tomato rootstocks: ‘Beaufort’ and ‘Multifort’. Grafted and nongrafted ‘Florida 47’ plants were grown on fumigated raised beds with polyethylene mulch and drip irrigation using recommended commercial production practices for nutrient and pest management. The estimated costs of grafted and nongrafted transplants were $0.67 and $0.15 per plant, respectively, resulting in an additional cost of $3020.16 per acre for using grafted transplants as compared with nongrafted plants. Grafting also led to higher costs of harvesting and marketing tomato fruit as a result of yield improvement (1890 to 2166 25-lb cartons per acre for grafted plant vs. 1457 to 1526 25-lb cartons per acre for nongrafted plant). Partial budget analyses showed that using grafted transplants increased tomato production costs by $4488.03–$5189.76 per acre depending on the rootstock and growing season. However, compared with nongrafted tomato, the net farm return of grafted tomato production was increased by $253.32–$2458.24 per acre based on the tomato shipping point prices. Sensitivity analysis further demonstrated that grafting would be more profitable as the costs of grafted transplants decreased and the market tomato prices increased. These results indicated that although grafting increased the total cost of production, the increase in marketable fruit yield generated significant gross returns to offset costs associated with the use of grafted tomato transplants. Nevertheless, further research is warranted to provide more production budget and net return data about the economic feasibility of grafted tomato production based on a wide range of commercial growing conditions in Florida.
Endothelial Keratoplasty in Eyes with Glaucoma

EK has become the standard of care for corneas with endothelial failure, most commonly Fuchs’, phakic or aphakic bullous keratopathy, failed PK, and the ICE syndromes [1–8]. EK now consists of two main procedures, DSAEK and DMEK (Figs. 3.1 and 3.2). Each procedure replaces the diseased endothelium without surface trephinations, avoiding all the pitfalls of PK. DSAEK donors are comprised of a layer of donor stroma (approximately 125 μm) as a carrier for the donor endothelium while DMEK is pure Descemet’s membrane and endothelium (15 μm). The difference in the donor’s thickness makes the two procedures surgically distinct, but the underlying principles between them are the same. The goal is donor adherence onto the host’s inner surface, thereby creating a new functioning endothelium. This is accomplished with an air bubble (or gas) to tamponade the donor into position.
Differential association between unemployment status and mental health among veterans and civilians

ABSTRACTThis study aims to examine the negative effect of unemployment on mental health among 2,762 veterans and 45,095 civilians aged 18 to 50 years. The data were from the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. We used ordinary least squares regression to test the interaction association between employment status and veteran/civilian status with mental health status. Findings revealed that long-term unemployed veterans had a significantly greater number of days with poor mental health than long-term unemployed civilians. The study highlights the need for future research concerning the negative effects of long-term unemployment on veterans’ mental health as well as the reciprocal relationships between mental health and occupational functioning for veterans. The findings challenge researchers to question the meanings that are associated with employment status for veterans as compared to those of their civilian peers. In addition to this, the study raises the need for further explo...
Ownership and Animal Oppression

In contrast to the largely favorable view of property rights among economists, animal advocates have often espoused strong criticism of human ownership of other animals. This position is not universal in the animal rights literature, however, and the disagreements between animal ethicists can be enlightening. This chapter will examine the case for the abolition of human ownership of animals, sometimes referred to as “animal liberation.” Some of the most prominent animal advocates have placed this goal at the very center of their philosophy. I will argue, however, that animal liberation is a laudable goal, but not ideal, since retaining some kind of ownership—albeit reformed—could play an important role in maintaining peaceful human-animal relations.
Importance-performance analysis (IPA) of sustainable tourism initiatives: the resident perspective.

Abstract While importance-performance analysis (IPA) is one of the most ubiquitous methodological tools utilized in tourism research, its supply-side application to residents has been lacking. Additionally, little research has examined residents' perceptions of sustainable tourism initiatives (STIs) or their community's performance on these STIs. Given this gap, this study conducted an IPA of resident attitudes towards STIs across three U.S. counties in the Commonwealth of Virginia with varying levels of emphasis placed on sustainable tourism within their strategic plans. The results revealed residents of the three counties placed uniformly high levels of importance on the STIs, but varied in their perceptions of performance. The county with the most emphasis placed on sustainable tourism within their plan was found to have the highest performance evaluations. Methodological and theoretical considerations are discussed in detail, including the placement of cross-hairs and how IPA can be situated within social exchange theory and Oliver's expectancy-disconfirmation paradigm.
The Uses of Precipitated Nylon as an Enzyme Support: An α-Galactosidase Reactor

Nylon precipitated from formic acid produces a surface into which enzymes readily adsorb. They can be immobilized on the surface by inter-enzyme crosslinking with glutaraldehyde or dimethyladipimidate. Nylon has been deposited onto the surfaces of porous polyethylene disks which provide a very convenient rigid matrix for a small enzyme reactor. On the other hand, the precipitated nylon does not require a support. It can be used to fill large column reactors through which enzyme and crosslinking agent are passed to make the immobilized enzyme in situ. A new, neutral, thermostable α-galactosidase of molecular weight 150,000 has been immobilized by this latter technique for the purpose of hydrolyzing the oligosaccharides in soy milks and beet sugar molasses. In addition thermolysin, papain, glucose isomerase and amyloglucosidase reactors have been prepared and studied.
Multivariate Seasonal Adjustment, Economic Identities, and Seasonal Taxonomy

This article extends the methodology for multivariate seasonal adjustment by exploring the statistical modeling of seasonality jointly across multiple time series, using latent dynamic factor models fitted using maximum likelihood estimation. Signal extraction methods for the series then allow us to calculate a model-based seasonal adjustment. We emphasize several facets of our analysis: (i) we quantify the efficiency gain in multivariate signal extraction versus univariate approaches; (ii) we address the problem of the preservation of economic identities; (iii) we describe a foray into seasonal taxonomy via the device of seasonal co-integration rank. These contributions are developed through two empirical studies of aggregate U.S. retail trade series and U.S. regional housing starts. Our analysis identifies different seasonal subcomponents that are able to capture the transition from prerecession to postrecession seasonal patterns. We also address the topic of indirect seasonal adjustment by analyzing th...
Human Cytokine-Induced Memory-like NK Cells Exhibit in Vivo Anti-Leukemia Activity in Xenografted NSG Mice and in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Natural killer (NK) cells mediate anti-AML responses and previously published clinical trials of adoptive allogeneic NK cell therapy provide proof-of-principle that NK cells may eliminate leukemia cells in patients. However, complete remissions occur in 30-50% of patients with active AML and are typically of limited duration. Thus, improvements are needed for this promising cellular immunotherapy strategy. Following paradigm-shifting studies in mice, it was established that human NK cells exhibit an innate 9memory-like9 responses following a brief, combined pre-activation with IL-12, -15, and -18 (Romee R et. al., Blood, 2012). These long-lived memory-like NK cells have an enhanced ability to produce IFN-g in response to restimulation with cytokines or activating receptor ligation, even following extensive proliferation. We hypothesized that memory-like NK cells exhibit enhanced responses to myeloid leukemia. Compared to control NK cells from the same donor, IL-12/15/18-induced memory-like NK cells produced significantly increased IFN-g upon co-culture with primary AML blasts in vitro (P Based on these pre-clinical findings, we initiated a first-in-human clinical trial of HLA-haploidentical IL-12/15/18-induced memory-like NK cells in patients with AML (NCT01898793). Relapsed/refractory (rel/ref) AML patients receive lymphodepleting non-myeloablative flu/cy conditioning, infusion of a single dose of CD56+CD3- memory-like donor NK cells, followed by two weeks of low dose rhIL-2. Three patients were treated at dose level 1 (0.5x106 cells/kg) and two patients treated at dose level 2 (1.0x106/kg) with no DLTs observed, and accrual continues. Correlative analyses utilizing donor-specific HLA mAbs allow tracking of donor memory-like NK cell frequency and function following adoptive transfer. Donor memory-like NK cells were detectable in the PB and BM of all tested patients with informative HLA (4/5), peak in frequency at 7-8 days post-infusion, and contract after 14-21 days as expected following recipient T cell recovery (Figure). Memory-like NK cells exhibit significantly increased Ki67%+ as a marker of proliferation at day 7 [97.8+1.0% (donor) vs. 21.6+5.5% (recipient), mean+SEM, P Disclosures Fehniger:Celgene: Research Funding.
The Chem-E-Car As A Vehicle For Service Learning Through K‑12 Outreach

This article presents the results of combining the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ (AIChE) Chem-E-Car competition activities with engineering outreach to K-12 students in a service-learning course. Survey results are presented to show how the program develops technical skills as well as leadership, teamwork, and communication skills in undergraduate students. The benefits of such a program to the K-12 students, undergraduate students, chapter advisor, department, and community are discussed along with the challenges in implementation.
Troubleshooting common endoscopic malfunctions: a study integrating a preoperative checklist and troubleshooting guide into surgical resident training

This study assessed the utility of a checklist in troubleshooting endoscopic equipment. Prior studies have demonstrated that performance in simulated tasks translates into completion of similar tasks in the operating room. Checklists have been shown to decrease error and improve patient safety. There is currently limited experience with the use of simulation and checklists to improve troubleshooting of endoscopic equipment. We propose the use of a checklist during a simulated colonoscopy to improve performance during endoscopic troubleshooting. This study randomized 20 surgical residents (PGY1–3) who were blinded to the purpose of the simulation. Participants were asked to complete two consecutive colonoscopies in a mock endoscopy suite. Prior to each trial, a standard set of equipment malfunctions were created; the equipment was returned to working order if the subjects were unable to successfully troubleshoot the equipment within the first 3 min of the simulation. Between trials, the intervention group was provided a troubleshooting checklist, which they were permitted to utilize during the second trial. The control group had no intervention. Scores were calculated for each task by subtracting time to completion from total time allowed (180 s), with 0 indicating the task was not completed. Groups were compared utilizing unpaired Student’s t-test with p < 0.05 threshold for significance. Average scores were compared for 5 tasks in the first trial and 6 tasks in the second trial. During the first trial, there were no significant differences. However, during the second trial, there was a significant improvement with the checklist for 5/6 tasks. Use of a checklist, with no further intervention, significantly improves the ability of novice endoscopists to identify and remedy common equipment malfunctions. Introduction of a troubleshooting checklist may represent a simple and low-cost way to improve both efficiency and safety in the endoscopy suite.
Metasurface terahertz laser with electronically-controlled polarization

We report a terahertz metasurface quantum-cascade VECSEL laser without moving parts that can electronically switch between near-orthogonal linearly polarized output. It exhibits excellent beam pattern, single-mode operation, and power up to 93 mW at 77 K.
Bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement: Revisiting prosthesis choice in patients younger than 50 years old.

Abstract Objective Aortic prosthesis choice is controversial in young adults because robust comparative outcome data are lacking. We therefore compared mortality and morbidity in young adults after bioprosthetic versus mechanical aortic valve replacement. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of 5111 patients aged 18 to 50 years undergoing primary aortic valve replacement in California and New York State from 1997 to 2006. Median follow-up time was 11.8 years (maximum 18.9 years). The primary endpoint was mortality; secondary endpoints were stroke, bleeding, and reoperation. Propensity score matching yielded 1175 patient pairs. Results Bioprosthetic valves increased from 14% to 47% of aortic valve replacements between 1997 and 2014 ( P P = .20). No interaction was found between age and prosthesis choice on survival (P interaction = 0.16). After bioprosthetic valve replacement, stroke rates were lower (5.4% [95% CI, 3.8%-7.2%] vs 8.1% [95% CI, 6.3%-10.2%], HR 0.62 [95% CI 0.43-0.91]), bleeding rates were lower (4.2% [95% CI, 3.0-5.6%] vs 8.4% [95% CI, 6.6-10.4%], HR 0.48 [95% CI, 0.33-0.69]), but reoperation rates were greater (24.5% [95% CI, 21.3%-27.8%] vs 9.3% [95% CI, 7.2%-11.7%], HR 5.9 [95% CI 3.2-11.0]) at 15 years versus mechanical valve replacement. Conclusions Although lifetime risks are represented incompletely, these findings suggest that in adults aged 18-50 years, bioprostheses are a reasonable alternative to mechanical valves for aortic valve replacement.
An Iris-Based Authentication Framework to Prevent Presentation Attacks

Attacks on authentication services are major security concerns. Password-based authentication systems can be compromised using known techniques, such as brute force and dictionary-based attacks. Biometric-based authentication systems are becoming the preferred choice to replace password-based authentication systems. Among several variations of biometrics (e.g., face, eye, fingerprint), iris-based authentication is commonly used in various applications. In iris-based authentication systems, iris images from legitimate users are captured and certain features are extracted to be used for matching during the authentication process. Literature works suggest that iris-based authentication systems can be subject to presentation attacks where an attacker obtains printed copy of the victim's eye image and displays it in front of an authentication system to gain unauthorized access. Such attacks can be performed by displaying static eye images on mobile devices or ipads (known as screen attacks). Since human iris features so not changed, once the iris image is compromised, it is hard to avoid this type of attack. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a framework for iris code generation by considering the changes of the area between the pupil and the sclera due to light density level. The proposed approach relies on capturing iris images using near infrared light. We train HaarCascade and LBP classifiers to capture the area between the pupil and the cornea. The image of iris is then stored in the database. This approach also generates a QR code from the iris. The code acts as a password and the user is required to provide it during authentication. A prototype is built using OpenCV platform tool. The prototype has been tested using samples obtained from publicly available iris database. The initial results show that the proposed approach has lower false positive and false negative rates.
Draft Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus rhamnosus NRRL B-442, a Potential Probiotic Strain.

ABSTRACT Lactic acid bacteria are known to exhibit probiotic properties through various mechanisms, including competitive exclusion, pathogen inhibition, production of antimicrobial substances, and maintenance of eubiosis. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of a novel probiotic strain, Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain NRRL B-442, which exhibits potent antivirulence activity against Salmonella enterica.
How is driving volatility related to intersection safety? A Bayesian heterogeneity-based analysis of instrumented vehicles data

Abstract Driving behavior in general is considered a leading cause of intersection related traffic crashes. However, due to unavailability of real-world driving data, intersection safety performance evaluations are largely reactive where state-of-the-art methods are applied to analyze historical crash data. In this regard, the emerging connected vehicles technology provides a promising opportunity for investigating intersection safety more from a proactive perspective. Driving volatility captures the extent of variations in instantaneous driving decisions when a vehicle is being driven. This study develops a fundamental understanding of microscopic driving volatility and how it relates to unsafe outcomes at intersections. Using high resolution driving data from a real-world connected vehicle testbed, Safety Pilot Model Deployment, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, a methodology is presented to quantify driving volatility at 116 intersections by analyzing more than 230 million real-world Basic Safety Messages. For proactive intersection safety evaluation, the large-scale connected vehicle data is then linked to detailed intersection data containing crashes, traffic exposure, and other geometric features. By using vehicular speed, acceleration/deceleration, and vehicular jerk based eight different volatility measures, descriptive analysis is performed to spot differences between driving volatility at signalized and un-signalized intersections. Then, in-depth statistical analysis is conducted separately for all intersections (signalized and un-signalized) and signalized intersections only. Importantly, not all factors that may influence crash frequency can be observed in the data. If unobserved factors could be included in a model, then correlations between driving volatility and crash frequency can change, e.g., the relationship can become statistically insignificant. Given the important methodological concerns of unobserved heterogeneity and potential omitted variable bias, hierarchical fixed- and random-parameter Poisson and Poisson log-normal models are estimated. Full Bayesian estimation via Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) based Gibbs sampling is performed, providing more efficient results. For all intersections, after controlling for traffic exposure, geometrics, and unobserved factors, a one-percent increase in intersection-level volatility calculated through two standard deviations threshold for acceleration/deceleration, passing level volatility captured through coefficient of variation of speed, and mean absolute deviance of vehicular jerk results in a 1.25%, 0.25%, and 0.35% increase in crash frequencies respectively. However, the relationships between intersection-specific volatility and crash frequencies are different for signalized intersections. Several of the exogenous factors are found to be normally distributed random parameters, suggesting that the effects of such variables vary across different intersections. The implications of the findings for proactive safety management are discussed.
Water Worth Gold: The Itaipú Hydroelectric Project1

This paper describes the circumstances that lead to the construction of the Itaipu hydroelectric facility and the creation of a bi-national entity to manage its construction and operation. We drawn on the standards suggested by the World Commission on Dams (2000) to assess the impact of the construction and operation of Itaipu on the affected populations and geography of Brazil and Paraguay. The paper highlights the magnitude of the enterprise in both absolute and relative terms, and discusses the asymmetry of bargaining power between the national partners. An analysis of the benefits derived from Itaipu that have accrued to both countries over the last twenty years, including the revenue stream from royalties and the sale of power, is presented. We conclude that the re-opening of negotiations on the price of power, in the current context of democratic governments in both countries, holds the promise of providing a more equitable distribution of costs and benefits.
The Natural History of Posterior Staphyloma Development

Posterior staphyloma is the most important lesion of pathologic myopia (which ranks as the seventh cause of adult blindness in U.S.A.). A knowledge of the evolution of the most common form of staphyloma, that involving the posterior pole (type 1), is indispensable for the understanding and eventual treatment of this disease.
The Structure of the Chromosphere Properties Pertaining to Element Fractionation

We review the structure and dynamics of the solar chromosphere with emphasis on the quiet Sun and properties that are relevant to element fractionation mechanisms. Attention is given to the chromospheric magnetic field, its connections to the photosphere, and to the dynamical evolution of the chromosphere. While some profound advances have been made in the “unmagnetized” chromosphere, our knowledge of the magnetically controlled chromosphere, more relevant for the discussion of element fractionation, is limited. Given the dynamic nature of the chromosphere and the poorly understood magnetic linkage to the corona, it is unlikely that we will soon know the detailed processes leading to FIP fractionation.
Predicting responses to inhibitory synaptic input in substantia nigra pars reticulata neurons.

The coupling of patterned presynaptic input to sequences of postsynaptic firing is a Gordian knot, complicated by the multidimensionality of neuronal state and the diversity of potential initial st...
Cell migration: implications for repair and regeneration in joint disease

Connective tissues within the synovial joints are characterized by their dense extracellular matrix and sparse cellularity. With injury or disease, however, tissues commonly experience an influx of cells owing to proliferation and migration of endogenous mesenchymal cell populations, as well as invasion of the tissue by other cell types, including immune cells. Although this process is critical for successful wound healing, aberrant immune-mediated cell infiltration can lead to pathological inflammation of the joint. Importantly, cells of mesenchymal or haematopoietic origin use distinct modes of migration and thus might respond differently to similar biological cues and microenvironments. Furthermore, cell migration in the physiological microenvironment of musculoskeletal tissues differs considerably from migration in vitro. This Review addresses the complexities of cell migration in fibrous connective tissues from three separate but interdependent perspectives: physiology (including the cellular and extracellular factors affecting 3D cell migration), pathophysiology (cell migration in the context of synovial joint autoimmune disease and injury) and tissue engineering (cell migration in engineered biomaterials). Improved understanding of the fundamental mechanisms governing interstitial cell migration might lead to interventions that stop invasion processes that culminate in deleterious outcomes and/or that expedite migration to direct endogenous cell-mediated repair and regeneration of joint tissues.
Abstract 129: Overexpression of P110alpha Induces Vascular Malformation in Mouse Tail, Feet and Ears

Phosphoinositide-3 kinases (PI3Ks) are a family of signal transduction enzymes involved in critical cellular functions such as cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, motility and survival. Cl...
Reconnecting the global British empire: response to critics

It is extremely gratifying when any piece of historical writing stimulates the thoughtful reflections and criticisms of internationally renowned scholars. We could not be more pleased with the resp...
Applying safety lessons from aviation to pre-licensure health professions education: A narrative critical review.

Abstract Background Significant numbers of patients continue to be harmed annually by healthcare systems in the United States (US) and around the world. Through a lens of safety, the fields of aviation and healthcare share many similarities in the non-technical skills required by team members, including situational awareness, communication, problem-solving, and leadership. Despite these links and evidence of effective interventions in the clinical setting, there is a lack of a guidance on how to incorporate non-technical skills training into pre-licensure health professions curricula. Methods Following guidance for a narrative critical review, a comprehensive literature search was conducted looking for studies incorporating non-technical skills training including crew resource management (CRM) and human factors and ergonomics (HFE) into pre-licensure health professions curricula. Results Eleven example articles were organized into three broad themes: (1) changing the teaching paradigm around errors, (2) targeted curricular interventions, and (3) interprofessional team training. Several useful tools for evaluating training effectiveness were highlighted, but consistent measures of efficacy for CRM/HFE training are lacking. Interprofessional team training may have the most tangible and broadly applicable link to pre-licensure curricula. Implications. Additional research is needed to identify best practices for consistent incorporation of non-technical skills into pre-licensure curricula. A cultural shift to focus on error management (vs. solely error avoidance) is also needed early in training with development of a common language to discuss patient safety issues and opportunities for improvement across various healthcare settings.
Chapter 10 – Tort Law

A tort is a civil wrong committed by a party against another party or their property. The three main tort actions are intentional tort, negligence, and strict liability. These torts require different elements of proof but all require a plaintiff to show that the defendant owes a duty of care. The agriculture-related intentional tort actions are trespass, nuisance, and conversion. An intentional tort action requires the plaintiff to prove that there was a voluntary act by the defendant. A negligence action focuses on the conduct of a defendant. A court determines whether a defendant’s conduct fell below what a reasonably prudent person would do under the same or similar circumstances. Strict liability imposes liability without fault. A plaintiff may recover specific and general damages. The cases explain the principles of duty of care, different approaches for proving negligence, and application of the rule in Rylands v Fletcher in proving strict liability.
Patient loneliness in an urban, underserved family medicine residency clinic: prevalence and relationship to health care utilization.

BACKGROUND Mounting evidence suggests that loneliness increases the risk of poor health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease and premature mortality.Objective: This study examined the prevalence of loneliness in an urban, underserved family medicine residency clinic and the association of loneliness with health care utilization. METHODS Adult patients (N = 330; M age = 42.1 years, SD = 14.9; 63% female; 58% African American) completed the 3-item UCLA Loneliness screener at their primary care visits between November 2018 and January 2019. A retrospective case-control study design was used to compare health care utilization [hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) visits, primary care visits, no-shows and referrals] in the prior 2 years between patients who identified as lonely versus those who did not. Covariates included demographics and clinical characteristics. RESULTS Nearly half (44%) of patients exceeded the cut-off for loneliness. Patients who were lonely were more likely to identify as African American, have depression and have a substance use disorder. Patients in the lonely group had significantly longer hospital stays and more primary care visits, no-shows and referrals than patients in the non-lonely group; there were no differences in number of hospitalizations or ED visits. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of loneliness in an urban, underserved primary care clinic was much higher than prior prevalence estimates in primary care. Patients who are lonely may use more health care resources than patients who are not lonely. Primary care may be an ideal setting in which to identify patients who are lonely to further understand the impact of loneliness on health care outcomes.